158 Ml' Bruce on the Manufacture of Tea, and on the 



Brought forward, 



1 native cai-pcnter, . . . . . . 4 



1 coolie sirdar, . . . . . . 10 



4 mahouts, at 6 each, . . . . , 24 ■ 



4 ditto mates, at 4 each, . , . , . 16 



-Rice for 4 elephants per month, . . . . 18 



4 sawyers, at 4 each, . . . . . 16 



2 Dak runners, at 3 : 8 : each, . . . . 7 

 4 Duffadars, at 3 each, . . . . . 12 



Fixed monthly expenditure in Assam, . . 1215 14 



Cash paid to Chinese families in China, . . 131 2 C 



Total monthly expenditure, 1347 6 



or 16,000 a-year, not including coolies and other items. It 

 should be remembered, that this establishment has been con- 

 fined to a few tracts as an experiment, and has never been 

 fully worked. The Chinese green tea-makers, canister-ma- 

 kers, and interpreter, have lately been added to the establish- 

 ment ; their services have not, as yet, been brought into ac- 

 count. We are just now availing ourselves of them by making 

 green tea ; and, as the natives at present placed under them 

 become available, large quantities of excellent green tea will 

 be manufactured. I suppose two Chinamen might qualify 

 twenty-four natives for the fir^t process ; the second, as I have 

 already recommended, might be performed in England, which, 

 in my humble opinion, would eflFect a great saving, by getting 

 machinery to do the greater part of the work. At all events, 

 it never could be manufactured in Assam Avithout a great ex- 

 pense, and this for want of labourers. However, it is gratify- 

 ing to see how fast the Chinese acquire the Assamese lan- 

 guage ; for, after they have been a year in the country, they 

 begin to speak sufficiently well for all ordinary purposes, so 

 that an interpreter can very well be dispensed Avith. Our 

 Chinamen can speak the Assamese language much better than 

 the interpreter can the English language. They are a violent, 

 headstrong, and passionate people, more especially as they are 

 aware we are so much in theu- power. If the many behave as 

 do the few, a Thannah would be necessary to keep them 

 cool. 



Witli respect to what are called the Singpho tea-tracts, lam 



