On That Island
There Are Said To Be Silver Mines, But Prohibited From Being Opened.
The
rest of the circumjacent islands are either desert, or very meanly
inhabited, but all of them abound in deer.
[Footnote 328: The sequel of these observations is said by Harris to
have been taken from another letter to the same correspondent with the
former, and dated in November, 1701; but, from circumstances in the
text, it would appear to have been written in 1702. - E.]
[Footnote 329: Probably that named Silver-island in modern maps. - E.]
It is not long since this island of Chusan began to be inhabited. Yet in
the days of Father Martini, about fifty years ago, it was very populous
for three or four years; at which time, in the fury of the Tartar
conquest, it was laid entirely desolate, not even sparing the mulberry
trees, which were then numerous, as they made a great deal of raw silk
here. It continued in this desolate condition till about eighteen years
ago, when the walls of the present town were built by the governor of
Ting-hai, as a strong-hold for a garrison, in order to expel some
pirates who had taken shelter on the island. As the island began to grow
populous, a chumpeen was sent to govern it for three years, to whom
the late chumpeen succeeded, who continued till last April, and procured
licence to open this port to strangers. On the last chumpeen being
promoted to the government of Tien-ching-wei[330] near Pekin, he was
succeeded by the present governor, who is son to the old chumpeen of
Emoy. They have no arts or manufactures in this island, except lacquered
ware; the particulars of which I cannot as yet send you. They have begun
to plant mulberry-trees, in order to breed up silk-worms for the
production of raw silk; and they gather and cure some tea, but chiefly
for their own use.
[Footnote 330: Probably that called Tien-sing in modern maps, on the
river Pay, between Pekin and the sea. - E.]
Sec.3. Of the Manner of cultivating Tea in Chusan.
The three sorts of tea usually carried to England are all from the same
plant, their difference being occasioned by the soils in which they
grow, and the season of the year at which they are gathered. The
bohea, or vo-u-i, so called from certain mountains in the province
of Token,[331] where it is chiefly made, is the very bud, gathered in
the beginning of March, and dried in the shade. The tea named bing is
the second growth, gathered in April, and siriglo is the last growth,
gathered in May and June; both of these being gently dried over the fire
in taches or pans. The tea shrub is an evergreen, being in flower from
October to January, and the seed ripens in the September or October
following, so that both flower and seed may be gathered at the same
time; but for one fully ripened seed, an hundred are abortive.
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