Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1857 edition. Excerpt: ... 142 RETURN TO TEA-DJSTRICTS. Chap. V11I. CHAPTER VIII. Return to the tea-districts of Chekiang--Mode of making collections of seeds amongst Chinese peasantry--Messengers sent to Moo-yuen and Ping-shuy--Ping-shuy teas--Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India--Varnish-tree--Wax-insect tree--Soap-tree--Death and funeral of a Buddhist priest--New blue dye--Its cultivation and manufacture--" Green indigo "--Its introduction to India and Europe. Tub events recorded in the last chapter spread themselves over more than a year of time, namely, from the autumn of 1853 to the spring of 1855, and their relation, in order to present them in a connected form, has carried me somewhat in advance of my narrative. It is now necessary to go back to the beginning of October, 1853. Having finished my work in Shanghae, I took my departure for the tea-districts in Chekiang in order to make collections of seeds and plants for the government plantations in the Himalaya. When I arrived amongst the tea-hills in that province, I found the seeds of the tea-plant just ripe, and all my old friends busily employed in collecting them in anticipation of my arrival. In my earlier experience with the Chinese things were much more difficult than they were now. Then the country-people used to fly from me whenever I appeared amongst them, and I was Chap. VIII. MODE OF MAKING COLLECTIONS. 143 often obliged to gather the seeds myself, and with my own people. Now we were better acquainted, and my only difficulty was to prevent them from bringing me too many. Having established myself in my old quarters in the temple of Tein-tung, I went to work in Chinese style. It was given out by my people and the priests that I had arrived for the purpose of making purchases of...
