Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-06-30

with stone flags or rough hewn stones two
feet high, frequently covered with inscrip-
tions. Family tombs are also to be seen,
dug in the hill, and enclosed with stone
walls of the shape of horse shoe. All
the entrances were built up with stone.
When we had nearly reached the end
of our excursion, we met funeral. A
horrible kind of music gave us warning
that something extraordinary was ap-
preaching, and we had hardly time to look
up and step on one side, before the pro-
cession came flying past us at full speed.
First came the worthy musicians, followed
by few Chinese, next two empty litters
carried by porters, and then the hollow
trunk of tree, representing the coffin,
hanging to a long pole, and carried in a
similar manner; last of all were some
priests and crowd of people.
A few days later visited tea factory.
The proprietor conducted me himself over
the workshops, which consisted of large
halls, in which six hundred people, inclu-
ding a great many old women and children
were al work My entrance occasioned a
perfect revolt. Old and young rose from
their work, the elder portion lifting up the
Younger members of the community in
their arms and pointing at me with their
fingers. The whole mass then pressed
close upon me, and raised so horrible a
crv that began to be alarmed. The pro-
prietor and his overseer had difficult
task to keep off the crowd, and begged
me to content myself with hasty glance
at the different objects, and then to quit
the building as soon as possible.
In consequence of this, could only
manage to observe that the leaves of the
plant are thrown for few seconds into
boiling water, and then placed in fat iron
pans, fixed slantingly in stone work, where
they are slightly roasted by a gentle heat,
during which process they are continually
stirred by hand. AS soon as they begin
to curl little, they are thrown upon large
planks, and each single leaf is rolled to-
gether. This is effected with such rapid
ity that it requires a PERSONS undivided
attention to perceive that no more than one
leaf is rolled up at time. Black tea ia kes
some time to roast, and the green is fire.
ouently colored with Prussan blue, an ex-
ceedngly small quantity of which is ad-
ded during the second roasting. Last OF
all the tea is once more shaken out upon
the large boards, in order that 1t may be
carefully inspected, and the leaves that are
not entirely closed are rolled over again.
Before l left, the proprietor conducted
me into his house, and treated me to cup
of tea prepared after the fashion in which
it is usually drunk by rich and noble Chi
nese. A small quantity was placed in a
China cup, boiling water poured upon It,,
and the cup then closed with tight fitting
cover. In few seconds the tea is then
drank, and the leaves left at the bottom.
The Chinese take neither sugar, rum, nor
milk with their tea! they say that anything
added to it, causes it to lose its aroma. In
nv cup, however, little sugar was put.
The tea-plant, which saw in the plan
tations round about Canton, was at most
six feet high; it is not allowed to grow any
higher, and is consequently cut at inter
walls. It's leaves are used from the third
to the eighth year; and the plant is then
cut down, in order that it may send forth
new shoots, or else it is rooted out. There
are three gatherings in the year; the tirst
in March, the second in April, and the
third, which last for three months, in May
The leaves of the first gathering are so del
icate and fine that they might easily be Ia
ken for the blossom, which has no doub
given rise to the error that the so-callec
"bloom or imperial tea' is supposed no
to consist Of the leaves but of the blossom
itself. This gathering is so hurtful to th'
plant, that it often perishes.
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