Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-06-03
EXCURSION TO THE TEA HILLS IN CHINA.

Mr.. Gutzlaf, a celebrated missionary in China,
in company with others, recently made an excur-
sion to the tea plantations in the Observation-Disclosures
sketch of their observat tons has been published
by Mr. Gordon.
The company having provided themselves with
the necessaries for four five days absence, COM
me need their march. The people gathered around
The strange boat and still stranger vsilants, curious
to divine their motives. The strangers succeeded
in obtaining supplies, and actually found, after
getting out of sight Of the inhabitants of the town,
one among the suspicious Cinnamon 10 act as
guide, and TO carry their baggage. Having pro-
ceeded for an hour, in N. h. direction, they came
to temple where they refreshed themselves with
tea, and the people appeared every where to treat
them with civility. They suffered much from the
gleat heat of the day, clothed they were in WOOL
len; and they were ultimately obliged to halt until
the cool ofthe evening. Chairs mounted OH banf-
boo poles and carried by two Cinnamon, were here
procured for a small sum, and they proceeded Oh
their journey, but had not gone far before the de-
cep;ve carriers demanded all additional fee, which
having been granted, they went Oh to a town where
another fee was demanded This was resisted,
and the people who had gathered around took the
part of the strangers and the exte,.:oners were
compelled to proceed. passing through another
village, the people thronged around them, insisted
upon the bearers sitting down their strange burdens
that they might have look at them. For this the
egregious fellows demanded one hundred cash, Ia
seventh ola cent each) for the qualification oftheir
curiosity. The country through which they passed
was crowded with people, and the soil was fertile,
producing rice. sugar, corr, and sweet potatoes.
There was noIa spot even on the rugged Hill, that
was not made to yield to some vegetable produce
ton; and every yard OF the fiat surface was under
cultivation. They arrived at mountain twelve
hundred feet high, OF difficult ascent. Having
mounted this and descended into valley, they
halted for the night. Arrived a, a river called
s'Gnake, or Peaceful stream,n they took passage in
a boat. The shores were al along lined with peo-
pie gazing at them with establishment. The course
of the river was N. w. and very shallow; though
two hundred yards in width, twas channelled with
great labor to admit the passage of light boat At
every village the people poured out as usual and
paid the strangers marked civilities. From the
heat OF the day they took shelter under an awning
OF the boat when the people wadcd into the stream
10 crafty their curiosity by a sight of them. Four
hundred "cash" was offered al some of the villa
ges il the bontmen would bring them OIL shore.
This being refused, the boys pelted the boat with
sods, but the public men apologised for the eager
curiosity OF the boys. The strangers now began 10
look out OIL the black looking hills for the plan
tatons, and they were assured that they were not
far of.
At Toale, tho residence of their guide, they
were informed that the seed was all produced OH tho
spo., slough it came originally from Woo-e-shun
and ripcned in the tenth month; that several were
put INFO one hole the greater part were abortiye
that the sprouts appeared in the third months that
the seeds were thrown into hole four inches deep;
that the leaves are plucked from the plant when
three years old, and that there are four puckings
in the year. No manure is needed, nor are the
plants irrigated, each shrub yields about the twelf
of pound oftea annually. A NOW of ground con-
tains three or four hundred plants. The tax the
land per NOW is three hundred s'cash' (720 of
which make dollar) The cultivation and gath
ering are performed by families, there being no
rate Of laborer's wages. The curing of the Leaf,
quiring skill, particular persons are employed at
the rate OF one dollar per picul of fresh, and five
dollars per picul of dried tea.-1he fire place and
utensials are temporary.-Thc leaves ofthe tea are
heated and rolled seven or eight times. The green
leaf yields one fifth its weight ofdry tea. The best
tea brings on the spot twenty-three dollars per p-
cul 1884 lbs. )-The principal portion of the pro-
duce is consumed in the province, or exported III
baskets to Formosa. The prevailing winds are
N. W., but eastcrly winds only injurious to the
tea plants. Here frost iscOmmon in the winter and
snow lls occasionally, though never over three in
ches! sSnd it soon disappears. The plant never
suffers from the cold but thrivcs from ten TO twenty
years. Worms sometimes attack the pith OF the
old plants and destroy them. The plant Is at It's
maximum of growth in seven years. Inc spots
where it is grown nre scattered over the country;
and hills are not particularly appropriated 10 us
culture. No gfound is devoted to tea plantations
that fit for anything else. The plant blossoms
twice year; oace in the eighth month, and again
IN winter, but the latter il aboftive.
The finances of the strangers becoming low, al
ter scme further interesting observations return