It has been mentioned in the Imperial Gazetteer of India (1908, P172) that the introduction of tea "into Darjeeling is due to Captain James, who persuaded Government to obtain seed from China, which he distributed among residents of the district to experiment with". A very important event was the posting of Dr. A. Campbell as Superintendent of Darjeeling in 1838 who was pleading with the Government all along for establishment of tea plantation either directly by Government or by the native residents in Darjeeling region. He pioneered the experimental growth of tea in the hills in early 1841 by planting few seeds from

the China stock around his bungalow which is now known as Beechwood, 2134 meters above sea level. The first experimental trial at Darjeeling was made in 1841 with a few seeds grown in the Kumaon plantations from China stock and it was quite successful. When W. B. Jackson came on tour to Darjeeling in 1854 noticed one tea plantation but Hunter reported in 1876 the existence of two or three gardens in 1853 in Darjeeling. But he had not mentioned their names and location. However, the real date of commencement of the tea industry may be taken at 1856-57. The tea gardens viz. Alubari, Pandam and Steinthal opened in 1856 in Darjeeling district (Imperial Gazetter, 1908, P172). Mr. Stolke planted Steinthal while the Barnes brothers planted at Mineral Springs, Bannockburn, and Soom. Captain Samler was the first planter of Darjeeling who in 1856 started the Alubari tea garden under the management of Kurseong and Darjeeling Tea Company. The largest tea concerned in the district was Darjeeling Company Limited which owned four gardens viz. Ambootia, Ging, Tukda and Phoobshering established between 1860 and 1864. The head office of the said company was in London. Its local management was vested in the hands of the Superintendent with five European assistants. In spite of monthly wage as high as Rs. 5 for men, 3 for women and Rs 2 for children were paid there was a shortage of workers. These people were encouraged to settle down in the company's garden permanently by assigning on them small plots of land for cultivation of c ereal crops such as maize, millet etc. The entire labour force in the gardens was 'Gorkhas'. Dr. Brougham started Dootoriah garden in 1859. Lebong Tea Company opened Tukvar and Badamtam tea gardens before 1864. Singell and Makaibari tea estates were opened in this period. Singell tea estate was planted by Mr. James White who later turned his attention to the plains and started first garden at Chamta near Sukna in 1862. The tea industry in Darjeeling district during the four years following 1870 continued to develop at an even greater pace than before, and by 1874, the number of tea gardens had increased from 56 to 113. In 1874, there were 129 Europeans employed as managers or assistant managers of tea gardens in Darjeeling, and there were 1373 natives in posts of trust or authority employed under the Europeans. In 1891, there were 177 tea gardens but thereafter the number decreased. The reason may be the tea estates after 1891 were more organised under big limited concerns so that total area under tea although increased, the number of gardens decreased. However, the growth was by no means a smooth sailing. There were many difficulties like communication bottlenecks, administrative problems, shortage of provisions and manpower. After independence, the British planters who owned about 90 % of the estates in Darjeeling hills started selling their holdings to local enterpreneurs and by the mid - 1950 a large number of estates had changed hands. There are around seventy tea estates functioning at present in Darjeeling hills on a total area of 19,000 hectares. The total production ranges from 10 to 11 million kg annually. The tea industry in Darjeeling employs over 52 thousand people permanently while a further 15,000 persons are engaged mainly during the plucking season which lasts from March to November. In the work force, more than 60 percent are women and the employment is mostly done on a family basis. Apart from tourism, tea is the biggest industrial activity offering the largest employment in the hills.