Page:Life in Java Volume 2.djvu/247

 TEA GODOWNS. 231

looked like a succession of lakes, one above the other. Any one who, unaware of the manner of cultivating rice, had looked down upon them as we did, would have concluded, from the quantity of water in every direction, that there had been very extensive inundations.

Before leaving Wonosobo, we went to see the tea godowns. So much has been said and written about the planting and preparing of tea, that it would be supei-fluous in me to make any remarks about it. Indeed, I think we only require, now, to be taught how to gwto the plant in our native soil, in order to produce as good tea as Jolm Chinaman, and thus become independent of his yearly exports I

The regular process is gone through at the go- downs. The tea is dried and rendered fit for ex- portation to Holland, where it is used to mix with pure China. The leading evqiloijts are Chinese, who seem to be considered indispensable as super-

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