Chap. YIII. 
THE TEA-PLANT. 
127 
many objections, not on his own account, but on 
mine. “They would be inconvenient for me to 
carry,” he said, and “ he was quite willing to dig 
them up next morning and bring them himself to 
the Legation.” I do not know that the man 
wanted to deceive me by bringing different and 
inferior kinds to those I had purchased, but I had 
been taken in once or twice in this way in China, 
and had determined not to be taken in again. I 
therefore expressed my best thanks for his good 
intentions towards me, but got him to let me 
have the suckers, to take home under my own 
charge. 
The Japanese gardener understands the art of 
chrysanthemum culture rather better than we do, 
and produces blooms of wonderful size. This is 
done by great care, good soil, and by allowing only 
one or two blooms to be perfected at the end of a 
shoot. 
The tea-plant was common in these gardens, and 
was frequently used as an edging for the walks. 
In this position it was kept clipped, and had a 
pretty and novel appearance. In other places in 
this district I observed it cultivated rather exten- 
sively for the sake of its leaves. There is also in 
the gardens of Ah-sax-saw a collection of living 
birds and other animals for the amusement of 
visitors who may happen to be fond of this branch 
of natural history. I observed green pigeons, 
speckled crows, a fine large eagle, gold and silver 
