p. XVII. 
TEA-PLANT. 
“ Tea is produced, or grows wild, in all the 
provinces of the island of Kiu-siu, and throughout 
the greater part of Nipon. The finest qualities 
come from Ya-mu-si-ro, hut the two largest pro- 
ducing districts are Isay and Owari. Suringa, 
Simosa, and Koshue are the provinces which 
supply the Kanagawa market with the earliest 
new tea ; but as the season advances, large sup- 
plies arrive from the districts bordering on the 
Inland Sea.” 
The tea-plant is said to have been introduced 
into Japan from China about the beginning of 
the ninth century by a Buddhist priest named 
Yeitsin, who presented the first cup of the bever- 
age to the reigning Mikado. It is now constantly 
observed on the sides of the roads, and in the 
gardens of the farmers and cottagers, who appear, 
in many instances, to cultivate only as much as 
will supply the wants of their families. I met 
with it in this way about Nagasaki and Kana- 
gawa, and in larger quantities in the vicinity of 
the capital. There can be no doubt, I think, that 
the great tea districts of Japan are in the country 
near Osaca and Miaco, the residence of the 
Mikado. Should this prove correct, then the new 
port of Hiogo, in the Inland Sea, or some place in 
its vicinity, may, one day, prove of considerable 
value to our merchants. 
Curious and almost romantic statements have 
been published regarding the mode of cultivating 
the tea-plant in Japan, — statements which, I am 
