THE DEPUTATION TO UPPER ASSAM. 
313 
Reference to the Figures in Plate III. 
A The Assam tea. Figs. 1, 2, 3, ripe 
capsules scarcely enlargerl ; at 1, seen from 
below, deeply three lobed ; 2, the common 
from commencing to burst; 3, the same com- 
pletely burst open, anddiscovering tbe seeds; 
4, the same, the seeds being removed , and 
one of these represented separately ; of the 
natural size ; 5, tlie lower half of a ripe cap- 
sule divided by an horizontal section and the 
seeds removed, exhibiting the places of 
deiiiscence along the angles or lobes, and the 
partitions alternating with these and sepa- 
rating fiorn the axis; a little enlarged; 6, 
outline of a full-grown leaf, of the natural 
dimensions. 
B The- Nipal camellia (C. kissi). Fi^. 
7, ripe and entire capsule slightly enlarged ; 
8 and 9, the same after bursting, the free axis 
being seen in the last figure ; 10, a horizontal 
section as in the tea, much enlarged, repre- 
senting the places of bursting, w hich alternate 
with the angles of the fruit, the partitions 
which are opposite to the angles of the fruit, 
and the valves, separating from the free axis ; 
11, a detached seed, natural size; 12, outline 
of a full grown leaf. 
(Signed), N. Wallich, M. D. 
Off. Sec to the Com. to Tea Cult. 
H. C. Bot. Garden, Dec. 24, l834.” 
On the grounds of the important intelli- 
gence to which we have alluded, the Com- 
mittee recommended to the particular con- 
sideration of the Government, that a de- 
putation of scientific men be sent to Upper 
Assam for the purpose of collecting on the 
spot the greatest variety procurable, of bota- 
nical, geological, and other details, preli- 
minary to ulterior and successful measures 
being taken with regard to the cultivation Of 
the tea shrub in that country. Captain Jen- 
kins states that the soil where the trees grow 
is alluvial ; they rise to the height of twelve 
or fifteen feet, at the foot of a low range of 
hills or a small distance up the hills; but never 
on the summit, from which he inferred they 
required a sheltered situation. The aspect 
was gnerally southerly or south east. The 
leaves about two inches in length and one in 
breadth, alternate, elliptic, oblong, and serrate; 
the flower white, very like that of the white 
wild rose, but much smaller. The editor of 
the Asiatic Journal states that, in 1828, 
Captains Grant and Pemberton sent speci- 
mens of the tea plant from Manipore to Mr. 
Secretary Swinton. They made tea from a de- 
coction of its leaves, and found it approach 
very nearly in flavour the ordinary black tea. 
We learn that Mr. Gordon anxious to 
have an opportunity of personally inspect- 
ing the tea plantations in the black tea dis- 
trict, next in celebrity to the Bohea hills, 
determined upon visiting the Ankoy hills 
and Kwuy Taou bay, he, in company with 
Messrs. GutzlafF, Ryder, and Nicholson, 
proceeded in a ship’s long boat towards the 
head of the bay where the town of Hwuy 
Taou is situated. We pass over the account 
of the journey, but bring our readers at once 
to the end and object of it. 
“ Arrived at Taou-ee. We were hospitably 
received by the family of our guide, and soon 
surrounded by wondering visitors. 
Mr. Gutzlafl speedily selected one or two 
of the most intelligent of them, and obtained 
from them ready answers to a variety of ques- 
tions regarding the cultivation of the plant. 
They informed him that the seed now used for 
pr opagating the plant was all produced on the 
spot, though the original stock of this part of 
the countr y was brought from Wae-eshan ; that 
it ripened in the 10th or 11th month, and was 
immediately put into the ground where it was 
intended to grow, several being put together 
into one hole, as the greater part was always 
abortive; that thesprouts appeared in the3td 
month after the seedswereputinto the ground ; 
that the holeinto wdiich theseeds were thrown 
are from three to four inches deep, and that 
as the plants grow the earth is gathered up a 
little round their root ; that leaves are taken 
from the plants when they are three years old, 
and that there are, from most plants, four 
pluclsingsin the year. No manure is used, 
nor is goodness of soil considered of conse- 
quence : neither are the plants irrigated. 
Each shrub may yield about a tael of dry 
tea annually (about the 12th of a pound). A 
mow of ground may contain three or four 
hundred plants. The land tax is 300 cash 
(720 dol.) per mow. The cu'tivation and 
gathering of the leaves being [rerformed by 
families without the assistance of hired la- 
bourers, rro rate of wages can be specified ; but 
as the curing of the lead is an art that requires 
some skill, persons are employed for that par- 
ticular purpose, who are paid at the rate of 1 
(11. per pecul of fresh leaf, equal to five dollars 
per pecul of dry tea. The fire-place used is 
only teinoorary, and all the utensils as well as 
firel are fuinished by the owner of the tea. 
'fhey stated that the leaves are heated and 
rolled seven or eight times. The green leaf 
yields one-fifth of its weight of dry tea. The 
best tea fetches on the spot 23 dls. per pecul, 
(l33§ lbs.) and the principal part of the pro- 
duce !S consumed within the province, or ex- 
ported in badcets to Formosa. That the pre- 
vailing winds arenorih-westerly. Theeasterly 
winds are the only winds injurious to the 
plants. Hoar frost is common during the 
winter months, and snow falls occasionally, 
but does not lie long nor to a greater depth 
than three or four inches. The plant is 
