ses on either side. Thus all
impurities are carried away, and they soon become dry, even after the
heaviest shower of rain. Large plantations of tea exist in the
neighbourhood, the leaf being prepared in the Chinese fashion. The
trade in this article alone has greatly increased since the ports of the
country have been opened. I give a drawing of a Chinese tea-plantation,
which is very similar to those we saw in Japan. The house seen in the
sketch is the drying-house. The tea-plant is produced from seed which
is dropped into holes, several together, four inches deep and four feet
apart, in December. When the rain comes on, the plants spring up and
form bushes. In about three years they yield their first crop of
leaves. In about eight years they are cut down, that fresh shoots may
spring up. The leaves are gathered singly with great care--in three
gatherings: the first, when they just open; the last, when fully
expanded. When gathered, they are first partially dried in the sun, and
then placed on flat iron pans above furnaces in the drying-house. They
require frequent shifting and turning. When sufficiently dried, they
are removed with a shovel on to a mat or basket to cool, and then to a
table to be rolled. This process is repeated, and they are then sifted
and sorted. As far as we could learn, both black and green teas are the
produce of the same plant, but prepared in a somewhat different way.

I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but
there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I
was frequently almost in despair. The Japanese, although idolaters, and
very unlike Europeans, are evidently a very civilised people. They have
had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas
are peculiar, according to our notions. Soon after we arrived, our new
friend had to pay a visit to the Governor of Nagasaki. The heat was
great; but Mr Hooker begged that we might belong to the party. The
Japanese, like wise people, except in cases of necessity, do not leave
their cool houses during the heat of the day. The town appeared
therefore almost deserted. The main street is broad and clean, the
inhabitants being generally government officials and retainers of the
chiefs, called Daimios. At about every hundred yards there is a barrier
gate. These gates are closed every evening, when a light is suspended
from the beam above, or a paper lantern