being applied to a description of Tea is stated to be as follows:-A Tea-planter named Soonoticed that one of his plants bore leaves of remarkable fragrance, and, after carefully watching the plant day by day so as to ascertain the cause, discovered a Black Serpent coiled round the stem of the bush, which remained there for a considerable period. The tree then became known as the 'Black Dragon,' and it was in great repute for grafting. The seeds of this tree did not produce such good plants as those propagated by grafts. This is said to have occurred at Seao-hoo on the river between the city of Keen-ning and Shwuy-keĭh. Caper is called in Chinese (Shwang-che), which means "doubly manipulated," much labour being bestowed on its preparation with the feet as well as hands. The term Caper was probably given, owing to its resemblance to the flower buds of the Caper bush. Scented Caper is called in Chinese (Choo-lan), on account of its being scented with the flowers of the Chin-choo-lan or Yu-tsze-lan (Aglaia

odorata).

Scented Orange Pekoe is called in Chinese T (Hwa-heang), which means literally "aroma of flowers." The blossom of the Kwei-hwa is most commonly

used for scenting this description of tea.

Bohea is derived from Boó-ê, the Amoy pronunciation of (Woo-e), the name of the celebrated hills. in the province of Fuh-keen. It is somewhat surprising that this name should be given to the very commonest description of Black Tea, while the hills themselves have been always famous for producing the very finest kinds.

GREEN TEAS.

These are called by the Chinese

Green Teas, and

(Lŭh-cha)

(Sung-lo-cha), Sung-lo being

the name of a hill where Green Tea is supposed to

have been first discovered.

Gunpowder is called

(Seaou-choo) "small

pearls," and various expressions are used to designate the different qualities, thus:

(Ma-choo) Hemp (seed) pearls.

(Paou-choo) Precious pearls.

(Che-choo) Sesamun (seed) pearls.

The very best Gunpowders from the P'ing-shwuy district are called (Hea-muh) Crabs-eyes. Imperial is called (Ta-choo) "large pearls,'c and the different qualities are designated, thus:(Chin-choo) Oyster pearls. (Yuen-choo) Round pearls.

(He-choo) Pearly hyson kind.

Young Hyson is so called, because it is similar to but smaller than Hyson. The Chinese call it (Yu-tseen), literally "before Yu," which implies that it is picked before Kuh-yu, a term which falls on or about 20th April every year. The different qualities are distinguished, thus:

(Ngo-mei) Imperial concubine's eyebrows.

(Mei-yu) Eyebrows picked before Kŭh-yu, (Ya-yu) Buds

(He-yu) Hyson kind

do.

do.

Other expressions are also used, such as :—

(Fung-mei) Phoenix eyebrows,

(Sew-mei) Elegant eyebrows,

Hyson. This word is a corruption of (Hehun), which means literally "vigorous or flourishing spring," but the characters do not bear translating in this case.

Ball in his work on the cultivation and manufacture of tea, states that the characters "He-chun" formed the hong name of a Tea merchant named Le, who was engaged in the Tea-trade in the district of Hew-ning, during the reign of Kh'ang-he (A.D. 1662-1722).

Another explanation is that He-chun was the name of the daughter of the Tea merchant Le, and that this particular kind of tea was called after her, because she was the first person to separate the leaves, so as to make what is called Hyson.

Members of this same family are still engaged in the Green Tea trade, and the celebrated chop (Le-yih-hing) continues to be made by them.

The different qualities of Hyson are described as follows:

(Mei-he) Eyebrows Hyson.

E(Ching-he) Best Hyson.

(Foo-he) Second (best) Hyson.

Tun

Twankay. This term is derived from kh'e, the well known mart about 15 miles to the Southwest of the city of Hwuy-chow.

This deseription of tea is, however, generally called by the Chinese (Sung-lo), from the celebrated Sung-lo shan before alluded to; and here we have. another instance of the commonest descriptions of tea being named from places most celebrated for producing and manufacturing the very best kinds.

Sung-lo shan is a small hill about 4 miles to the

Ball?

North of the city of Hew-ning. It is also called

(Kin-fuh shan) "Golden Buddha hill," and is stated to be 160 jin in height, or say about 1,500 English feet. This hill was visited by Fortune in 18 48, when he found that tea was no longer cultivated upon it.

In describing the different qualities, the following characters are used as prefixes:

√公司 Kung-sze.

Chang-shan.

Hwang-shan.

Teen-too.

白嶽 Peh-yǔ.

Hwa-shan.

HỆ 4 Yen-săng.

Shang-pin,

Keen-seuen.

Kung-sze, which means literally "public company," stands for the old East India Company.

Chang-shan is the name of a famous hill in the Northern part of the Woo-yuen district.

Hwang-shan, meaning Imperial or Yellow Mountains is a celebrated group of spiculated hills in the prefecture of Hwuy-chow, famous for producing the best Tea.

T'een-too is the name of one of the highest and most noted peaks in this group; the Chinese call it 900 jin in height, or about 8,500 English feet.

Peh-yŏ stands for Peh-yŏ shan, also called Tse-yun-yen. This is another celebrated group of peaks about 9 miles to the West of the city of Hew-ning.

Hwa-shan is a contraction of

shan, a cluster of peaks in the district of

Kew-hwa

Ts'ing-yang, and about 20 miles from the town of Ta

tung on the Yang-tsze.

Yen-săng is ambiguous, but means generally "very fine."

Shang-pin means "best," and Keen-seuen, "selected."

It is now very generally recognised that either Black or Green Tea can be made from the same plant. No doubt some districts produce Tea more suitable for being made into Black than Green, but it is well known that at one time the leaf in the Woo-ning district was made into Green Tea, while it is now made into Black; and in Keen-teh the leaf is made into Black or Green, or Black and Green, according to the demand at the time.

The essential difference between Black Tea and Green Tea is, that the former is sun-dried soon after being picked and before it is first roasted, while the latter is roasted immediately after being picked, and is not exposed to the sun at all.

The baskets used by the pickers in the Green Tea districts are very similar to fishing baskets, having small mouths and long necks, while the baskets used in the Black Tea districts are open. It is even said that, in picking the leaves to be made into the choicest Green Tea, the pickers stand with their backs to the sun, so as to prevent the sun's rays acting upon the leaf after being picked from the tree.

Morrison's orthography is used throughout this paper, as being the most suitable for proper names.