92 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



of the British Expedition to Lhassa, and discussed with Chinese 

 merchants interested in the Thibetan tea trade the possibiHty 

 of India taking a share in the trade. It was very evident that 

 they greatly feared Indian competition, and were keenly alive 

 to the possibilities of it. From Darjeeling to Lhassa is only 

 about 30 stages (350 miles approx.), whilst from Tachienlu the 

 journey occupies over three months. The physical difficulties 

 of the route are greater on the Chinese than on the Indian side, 

 yet the people of Lhassa still draw their tea-supply from China. 

 And further, Chinese tea, apart from that taken in exchange 

 for musk, skins, wool, gold, and medicines, was, until very 

 recently, paid for by the Thibetans in Indian rupees. 



The brick-tea prepared for Thibet is a totally different 

 article from that prepared in Hankow for the Russian market. 

 It is also so totally different from ordinary Chinese tea that 

 some have supposed it to be the product of a distinct plant. 

 My wanderings in Western China led me through the tea- 

 producing areas and the markets which supply the commodity 

 to the Thibetans, my observations, therefore, may be of interest 

 and value. 



The two great trade-marts for China and Thibet are Tachien- 

 lu, in the west of Szechuan, and Sungpan, in the extreme north- 

 west corner of that province. The official route to Lhassa 

 passes through Tachienlu, and this town is the mart for southern 

 and central Thibet, including Lhassa, Chamdo, and Derge. 

 The mart for the Amdo and Kokonor regions generally is 

 Sungpan. At this latter town the trade is purely one of barter, 

 tea being taken in exchange for furs, wool, musk, and 

 medicines. The tea for the two markets is prepared very 

 differently, grown in distinct localities, and is best discussed 

 separately. 



The tea for the Tachienlu market is practically all grown 

 within the prefecture of Yachou Fu, more especially in the 

 mountainous districts to the north-west and south of the town. 

 The manufacturing business is controlled by the Government 

 and provincial authorities, who issue a definite number of 

 licences to establishments in the towns of Yachou, Mingshan, 

 Yungching, and T'ienchiian — all within the Yachou prefecture. 

 The independent department of Kiung Chou, a little to the north- 



