TEA STORES AT CANTON. 303 



•chest, such as has been known in England since its 

 introdnction in 1667. But tea prepared for overland 

 transport to Russia and the interior of Asia, is gener- 

 ally packed in cakes of the most convenient size for 

 transport. The inferior qualities, sent to Tibet, are 

 compressed into cakes four feet long by one foot 

 broad and four inches thick, these are piled one on the 

 top of the other, as many as a coolie can carry on his 

 back. The Tibetan drinks his tea with a lump of 

 butter in it ; that and oatmeal porridge forms his 

 principal, if not his only food. 



In the evening a row on the river, edging in and out 

 amongst the innumerable boats, is very amusing; these 

 are the so-called flower-boats, where Chinese delig-ht 

 in spending their evenings, and nights too; hundreds 

 if not thousands, indeed, live on the river, o-oins" on 

 shore in the morning to follow their daily occupation, 

 and returning in the evening. Tbese boats generally 

 have musicians, often only a blind piper, and female 

 entertainers on boai'd, who with singing and dancing 

 while away the time of the men when they have 

 gorged themselves with food of a very mixed nature, 

 after which they recline on mats to enjoy the inhaling of 

 opium. It is a most extraordinary sight skipping from 

 one boat to another and watching tlieir doings. All 

 the payments that seemed to be made here for food 



