‘This is a familiar beverage, Gaam. We call it tea. I’ve brought some with me. Wait, I will show you.’

On Robert’s instructions, Deodhan ran to the boat to get the tea, and also the paraphernalia for brewing it. Robert extended a sample of the tea and placed it on the chieftain’s palm.

Smelling it, he said, ‘This is just like our phalap. Where did you get it?’

‘I brought it from China. People all over the world drink tea but it is cultivated only in China. I’ll treat you to some tea and you can tell me how you like it.’

Bisa Gaam was now truly curious.

While Deodhan prepared tea, everyone looked on curiously. As they drank it with sugar, everyone seemed to be overjoyed.

‘How do you like it, Gaam?’ Robert asked, watching the surprised look on his face.

‘It is very good,’ he answered.

‘Would you like to go into the business of producing tea with me?’ Robert asked, slowly sipping his tea.

‘Business, did you say? Of phalap?’

‘Yes. That is exactly what I said. We will produce tea here and sell it far away, in the place from where I come. And you will earn a lot of silver.’

Bisa Gaam’s eyes widened in surprise. Would it be wise to trade in tea with this unnaturally fair man from across the seas?

After a long period of silence, he asked, ‘Will this business of tea cause any difficulty to our people?’

‘No, not at all. In fact, it will bring about development; lots of development.’ Robert explained the techniques involved in tea trading. He talked about Europe, Calcutta and the East India Company. The interpreter kept translating while Bisa Gaam nodded. He had heard of the East India Company from many sources. Having helped the Burmese in their wars against Assam, he had a lot of information from the Burmese people. He understood that it would be to the advantage of the Singpho people if he joined hands with this European fellow; Robert Bruce was on good terms with the Burmese general as well as with the administrator in Assam.

‘What would I have to do for this tea trade?’ Gaam asked.

‘We will have to begin with an agreement. I will take with me some leaves and a few seedlings as well, as a sample of phalap. Then, slowly, the work will move. The responsibility will entirely be mine. You need not worry one bit. If you don’t have any objection, can I have a look at some phalap trees?’

‘Yes, of course you can. We have some trees here, but I’ll take you to a jungle of phalap trees. But let us first have our meal.’

Robert agreed, sipping tea from the bamboo tube. He was dreaming of the future.

By the time they finished their meal, it was mid-afternoon. A lot of people had assembled outside to catch a glimpse of Bisa Gaam’s foreign guest. Bisa Gaam climbed onto an elephant, as did his bodyguards. Robert sat on another, and his gunners followed suit. They weren’t taking any chances.