ROBERT BRUCE'S REPORT ON ASSAM TEA
CHAMBERS EDINBURGH JOURNAL
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25,1840

The following extract will afford some idea of his procedure in searching for tea-tracts : "Last year, in going over one of the hills behind Jaipore, about 300 feet high, I came upon a tea-tract, which must have been two or three miles in length infact I did not see the end ofit ; the trees were in most parts as thick as they could grow, and the tea seeds (smaller than what 1 had seen before), fine and fresh, literally covered the ground: this was in the
middle of November, and the trees had abundance of fruit and flower on them.
One of the largest trees I found to be two cubits in circumference, and full forty cubits in height.
At the foot of the hill I found another tract, and, had time permitted me to explore those parts, there is no doubt but I should have found many of the Naga Hills covered with tea.
I have since been informed of two more tracts near this.
In going along the foot of the hills to the westward, I was informed that there was tea at Teweack, or near it : this information came too late, for I had passed it, just a little to the east of the Dacca River, at a place called Chiridoo, a small hill projecting out more than the rest on the plain to the northward, with the ruins of a brick temple on it ; here I found tea, and no doubt, if there had been time to examine, I should have found many more tracts, I crossed the Dacca River at the old fort of Ghergong, and walked towards the hills, and almost immediately came upon tea.
The place is called Hauthoweah.
Here I remained a couple of days going about the country, and came upon no fewer than thirteen tracts.
A Dewaniah who assisted me to hunt out these tracts, and who was well acquainted with the leaf, as he had been in the habit of drinking tea during his residence with the Singphoes, informed me that he had seen a large tract of tea-plants on the Naga mountains, a day's journey west of Chiridoo.
I have no reason to doubt the veracity of this man ; he offered to point out the place to me, or any of my men, if they would accompany him ; but as the country belonged to Raja Poorunda Sing, I could not examine it.
I feel convinced the whole of the country is full of tea.
Again, in going farther to the south-west, just before I came to Gabrew hill, I found the small hills adjoining it, to the eastward, covered with tea-plants.
The flowers of the tea on these hills are of a pleasant delicate fragrance, unlike the smell of our other tea-plants ; but the loaves and fruit appear the same.
This would be a delightful place for the manufacture of tea, as the country is well populated, has abundance of grain, and labour is cheap.
There is a small stream called the Jhamgy river, at a distance of two hours' walk ; it is navigable, I am informed, all the year round for small canoes, which would carry down the tea, and the place is only one and a half day's journey from Jorehaut, the capital of Upper Assam.

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