Chap. VI. 
SILVER ISLAND. 
93 
I felt rather annoyed, as I expected to have secured a 
considerable quantity of tea-seeds, but contented myself 
with a determination to look better after them the next 
day. On the following morning I procured a pony, and 
with my two defaulters set off for the tea-farms situated 
in the middle of the island. Captain Priestman accom- 
panied me ; and as he had seen the conduct of my two 
men on the day previous, he assisted me to look after 
them with hearty good will. When we had crossed the 
first range of hills and were descending into the valley 
on the opposite side, the two Chinese disappeared just 
as they had done the day before. Riding back some 
distance, we found them lingering behind, and evidently 
intending to lose us again and return home. This time, 
however, it would not do ; so calling them to come on, 
and placing them between us on the narrow road, we 
moved forwards. I fear, I must confess, that we did 
not take the nearest road to our destination, which we 
reached at last, having been between three and four 
hours on the way. We gathered a good supply of 
tea-seeds from various farms on the hill-sides; and 
when we had finished the day's operations rode quietly 
homewards, leaving the Chinamen to bring the col- 
lections which had been made. The same plan was 
adopted daily until nearly all the farms were visited, and 
a large supply of tea-seeds was obtained. 
Silver Island consists of a succession of hills and valleys 
not unlike those of Chusan, but even more rich in 
appearance. Passing over the first hill and descending 
into the valley, the traveller at first imagines that he is 
surrounded on every side by hills : but, proceeding 
