252 OSBECTS VOYAG E. 



bafkets (but let it be noted I am now fpeaking 

 of Bohea tea, for the finer forts are fold in 

 chefts); and if any bad tea is found in thefe 

 bafkets, it is feparated from the reft. The 

 good tea is then packed up in new chefts, the 

 weight of which is deduced; and thefe chefts 

 are marked, and lined with lead in the infide. 

 A Ch'mefe gets into thefe chefts, and treads down 

 the tea as it is emptied out of the bafkets: 

 this is very hard labour ; and throws the tread- 

 er, who is almoft naked, into a profufe per- 

 fpiration ■ . Though great care is taken to pre- 

 vent any thing' from coming into the tea, yet 

 it is hardly to be avoided : and fometimes 

 their feet are wounded and bleed. But the 

 tea has already pafTed through fo many dirty 

 hands, that thofe who ufe that drug have no 

 reafbn to be difgufted with this laft mark of 

 indelicacy in the package k . As foon as fome 



1 This difgufting circumfcance remarkably attends the 

 lagging or treading of hops into their bags. Nor are the 

 circumftanccs regarding the treading the wine-prefs, or of 

 fngar or raifins into hogQieads or barrels, very delicate : yec 

 fuxh kind of package is unavoidable. 



k The veins on the feet of fome Chinsfe are very ftrong, 

 and run in extraordinary dire&ions. The bamboo flicks, 

 upon which they carry tea cherts and other heavy things, 

 pake deep iniprefhons on their ihoulders. 



9* 



