290 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. XVII. 
believes we could not continue to exist as a nation 
were it not for the productions of the celestial empire. 
It has been stated that his celestial majesty the Emperor, 
himself, during the war recommended his subjects to use 
every means in their power to prevent the English from 
getting tea and rhubarb — the one being what they lived 
upon, and the other their medicine ; without which, his 
majesty said, they could not continue to exist for any 
length of time ; and consequently would be more easily 
conquered in this way than by the sword. 
I told the mandarins that I did not care whether 
there were tea-farms on these hills or not ; but that, 
to cut the matter short, I was determined to go and 
see. 
Accordingly, on the following morning I started early, 
taking the road for the tea-hills. The flat country- 
through which I passed, between the north side of the 
city and the mountains, is chiefly cultivated with rice, 
sugar-cane, ginger, and tobacco. On the sides of the 
little hills, and also for a considerable distance up the 
loftier ranges, large quantities of sweet potatoes and 
earth-nuts are grown during the summer season ; but as 
we ascend, the mountains become more rugged, cultiva- 
tion ceases, and plants indigenous to the country alone 
show themselves. 
After toiling up one of the celebrated mountain 
passes, which is paved all the way, and has a house of 
refreshment about half way up, I reached the summit of 
the mountain — the highest land in this part of China. 
A glorious prospect was spread before me : the valley of 
