Mr. J. E. Mason, of the Alpha Tea and Coffee Estate, Taviuni, Fiji, has forwarded to Mr. J. O. Moody, the expert, of Melbourne, samples of the first Fijian Tea produced in his part of the world; at the same time writing that early next year he hoped to pluck off 30 acres planted with Tea, and that the samples sent were hastily made in a barrel with a frying-pan of charcoal. Mr. J. O. Moody reports:--“Fiji Pekoe leaf: Handsome, small, even, golden tipped, evenly and well fermented. Fiji Pekoe liquor: Very strong, full, rich, and pungent pekoe flavour, thick, with deep red infusion. An invaluable Tea for mixing, and worth about 2_s._ 6_d._ per lb. in bond. Fiji Pekoe Souchong leaf: Well made, wiry, twisted, rich, black tippy leaf, evenly and well fermented Fiji Pekoe Souchong flavour, with good, bright, red infusion. A fine Tea to drink alone, and worth about 1_s._ 9_d._ per lb. in bond. These Teas have the character of good Ceylon growths, and are in every respect suitable Teas for general consumption, and such samples are sure to meet with ready sale in Australasia or Great Britain.” Here again, I am told, the labour question is the doubtful point. Tea cannot be made to pay without cheap labour, and the sooner all these new Tea countries learn the lesson the better for the pockets of the projectors. I may add, the better for the Indian planter’s pocket too, for _any_ increase in the supply is hurtful. In closing this chapter, I would give one word of advice to intending Tea planters in India, or indeed anywhere. There is too much Tea already, why plant more? If you must “go into Tea” you may do so and probably make money, but it will not be by _planting_ it. If you look about you can buy a plantation ready made for far less than you could make such, and in doing so there is no reason why it should not pay, and pay well. If you make a garden you will have five or six years to wait for any return; you attempt what requires knowledge and experience to succeed in, and begging your success, who can say what the market will be then? I have far from exhausted the subject of these new Tea fields, but my space is limited, and several other points demand attention. FOOTNOTE: [89] Much about Java and its Teas can be found in a book entitled “Java, or How to Manage a Colony,” by J. W. B. Money. Crown 8vo, 2 vols. Hurst and Blackett. CHAPTER XXXIII. STATISTICS REGARDING INDIAN TEA. As early as 1780 a few Chinese plants were to be seen in Calcutta cultivated by a Colonel Kyd. The possibility of cultivating Tea in India was first mooted in 1835-36, and the Indian Government started an experimental garden at Lukimpore (Assam) at that time. Indigenous Tea was first discovered in Assam by a Mr. Bruce in 1830. In 1845 and following years the Government imported large quantities of China seed and established nurseries on the Himalayas.