TEA AND " TEA-YIELDING " PLANTS 91 



over Szechuan for provincial consumption, but in the western 

 parts it assumes much greater magnitude, being there grown 

 and specially prepared for the Thibetan market. The one 

 great export from China to Thibet is tea, either in the form of 

 compressed " bricks " or " bales." The subsidy given by the 

 Chinese Government to the Thibetan authorities at Lhassa 

 and elsewhere in Thibet is also paid in tea. 



To the Thibetans tea is an absolute necessity of life, and 

 deprived of this astringent they suffer in various ways. That 

 astringency is one of the properties most desired is evidenced 

 by the fact that the bark of Oak trees is ofttimes used when 

 tea cannot be obtained. The ordinary everyday meal of these 

 people consists of tea mixed with a little butter and salt. 

 To this mixture roasted barley-meal is added, and the whole is 

 kneaded to the consistency of dough, in which condition it is 

 eaten. Buttered tea is also their national beverage. To the 

 European palate this concoction as prepared by the Thibetans 

 bears only the remotest possible resemblance to " tea." I have 

 tried it often but never succeeded in persuading myself to 

 like it. 



Much has been written on the possibility of Indian tea- 

 planters having a share in this tea trade with Thibet. From 

 the close proximity of Assam to Lhassa and south-eastern 

 Thibet generally, one would suppose that the difficulties would 

 not be very great, yet the trade has made little progress. The 

 opposition of the Lamas and the obstinate conservatism of the 

 people are very real difficulties in the way. There is also 

 another and equally important factor which should not be 

 lost sight of, namely, the nature and quality of the tea that 

 is in demand. Now it is safe to say that the veriest sweepings 

 from the Indian tea factories would make better tea than that 

 partaken of by the average Thibetan ; but this is not the 

 important point. To secure a share of this trade Indian 

 planters must be prepared to supply the Thibetans with the 

 kind of article to which they are accustomed, and not with 

 something different, even though it be of a superior quality. 

 The trade is very considerable and worth striving after ; further- 

 more, there is no reason why it should not be increased. I was 

 travelling on the Chino-Thibetan frontier during the time 



