Teas of Commerce. 247 



of the most flagrant kind. Two samples of tea, a black and 

 a green, were lately put into my hands by a merchant for 

 examination, the results of which he has allowed me to make 

 public. The black tea was styled scented caper ; the green, 

 gunpowder : and I understand they are usually imported into 

 this country in small chests called catty packages. The ap- 

 pearance of these teas is remarkable ; they are apparently 

 exceedingly closely rolled, and very heavy ; the reasons for 

 which will be clearly demonstrated. They possess a very 

 fragrant odour. The black tea is in compact granules, 

 like shot of varying size, and presenting a fine glossy lustre 

 of a very black hue. The green is also granular and compact, 

 and presents a bright pale bluish aspect, with a shade of 

 green, and so highly glazed and faced that the facing rises 

 in clouds of dust when it is agitated or poured from one 

 vessel to another ; it even coats the vessel or paper on 

 which it may be poured. On examining these samples, in the 

 manner described in my former paper, to remove this facing 

 I was struck by the tenacity with which it adhered to the 

 surface, and which I had never remarked in any previous 

 sample, requiring to be soaked for some time in the water 

 before it could be detached ; with this precaution, however, 

 the greater part of the facing material was removed. It 

 proved, in the case of the sample of green tea, to be a pale 

 Prussian blue, a yellow vegetable colour, which we now know 

 to be turmeric, and a very large proportion of sulphate of 

 lime. The facing from the sample of black tea was per- 

 fectly black in colour, and on examination was found to consist 

 of earthy graphite or black lead. It was observed, that, 

 during the prolonged soaking operation, to which these teas 

 had been submitted, there was no tendency exhibited in either 

 case to unroll or expand, for a reason which will be presently 

 obvious. — One of the samples was therefore treated with hot 

 water, without however any portion of a leaf being rendered 

 apparent. It increased in size slightly, was disintegrated, and 

 then it was found that a large quantity of sand and dirt had 

 subsided ; this was separated by decantation and collected ; 

 it was found to amount to 1*5 grains from 10 grains of the 

 sample, or 15 in the 100 parts. It was evident, however, 



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