147 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



BOXES. PACKING. 



BY far the best Tea boxes are the teak ones made at 

 Rangoon. The wood is impervious to insects of all kinds, 

 even white ants. Sawn by machinery the pieces sent to 

 compose each box are very regular. The plank is half inch, 

 and each chest made up measures inside 23 by 18 by i8J 

 inches, and necessarily outside 24 by 19 by 19^ inches. The 

 inner cubical contents are 7,659 cubic inches, and this 

 suffices for above one maund of fine, and under a maund of 

 coarse Tea. 



Each box is composed of fourteen pieces viz., for the 

 two long sides three each, for the two short sides two each, 

 two for the bottom, and two for the lid. By the arrange- 

 ment of three pieces in the long sides, and two only in the 

 short sides, the centre piece of each long side is attached to 

 both the short end pieces, and thus great strength in the 

 box is ensured, there being no place where it can possibly 

 separate at the joints. 



These boxes are not made to " dovetail." Each piece 

 (and they are sawn with mathematical regularity as to 

 length, breadth, and thickness) must be nailed to its neigh- 

 bour. The best nails for this are the kind called " French 

 Pins," if inches long. 



The wood is sold at Rangoon in bundles, and could be 

 landed in Calcutta for about Re. 1-8 or 1-12 per box. The 

 boxes need not be made up till shortly before they are 

 wanted, and in this form, of compact bundles of short 

 pieces, are very convenient for transport and stowage. 



