72 TEA 



of are low priced, bidding is extremely rapid, 300 lots 

 often being knocked down in an hour. Each item is 

 not separately announced as is usually the case in the 

 majority of auctions, but directly one parcel has passed 

 the selling broker's hammer, the next one is immediately 

 bid for. When the market is brisk the lots are knocked 

 down very rapidly, and it is only those with a clear head 

 and considerable experience, who are able to follow the 

 various transactions with any degree of certainty. 

 When the season is in full swing, the Indian Sales take 

 place twice a week, on Monday and Wednesday. The 

 major portion of the offerings are brought forward in 

 the early part of the week, the balance being sold on 

 Wednesday. Ceylons are offered on Tuesday, Chinas 

 on Wednesday, and Javas on Thursday. The China 

 sales held on Wednesday do not interfere with the Indian 

 conducted on . the same day, as a different buyer is 



generally responsible for China teas. _ 



At the conclusion of the auction the buyer applies at 

 the offices of the selling brokers, and obtains orders to 

 enable him to sample the various lots he has purchased. 

 These orders are presented at the Public Bonded Ware- 

 houses where the particular teas are stored, and in 

 exchange for a certain weight of " returns," the same 

 number of pounds taken from bulk are given. It will 

 be instructive to explain at this point, some of the ; 

 regulations dealing with sampling, as often a grocer, 

 when opening a chest, wonders why a pound of tea 

 wrapped in paper has been placed on the top of the 

 package. The reason is that it is necessary to keep the 

 original Customs weight of each chest intact, conse- 

 quently when a pound and not more than one pound 

 can be taken out of a chest without special permission 

 is required as a sample, the one drawing the sample is 

 required to supply a pound of tea similar in style, and 



