34 



The data from which this return is compiled is 

 not, unfortunately, as complete as it might be, 

 the managers of some private concerns declining, 

 for reasons best known to themselves, to furnish 

 Government officials with the particulars required, 

 for giving a complete statistical detail of this in- 

 teresting cultivation. 



But an unerring test in such cases, where the 

 materials obtained from private sources are imper- 

 fect or doubtful, are, the trade returns. These, as 

 courteously furnished to me by the Board of 

 Revenue, show, that for the year ending 30th April 

 1862, the quantity of tea exported to all ports from 

 Calcutta, was 5,686 chests, containing 1,487,285 Ibs. 

 of tea. Under Act X. of 1860, and XI. of 1862, tea 

 is exported free of duty. It is nevertheless valued 

 at the Custom House. Por this purpose it is 

 divided into four different classes, viz. 8 as., 12 as., 

 1 r., and 1 r., 4 as. per lb., which gives an average 

 of 14 as. per lb., and a total for the year 1861 of 

 Us. 13,01,374, or say, 130,137. And, as That tea 

 has been grown in the North West, has been almost 

 wholly consumed in the country, and comparatively 

 very little of Assam and Cachar tea is retained for 

 home use, the return here given, will afford a 

 very fair idea of the quantity of tea grown last 

 year, in the Lower Provinces of Bengal. 



