138 MARKETS AND PACKING AT SING-CSUN. 



their regular and appointed times ; — as, for example, 

 at Ly Yuen there is a tea market every tenth day 

 during the season ; on the 2d, 12th, and 22d days 

 of one month, and on the 7th, 17th, and 27th 

 days of the following month ; and so on at other 

 places. 



As the teas are packed and collected at these 

 country markets, they are sent to the village of 

 Sing-csun. Here the Canton Hong merchants and 

 tea factors have large packing establishments, where 

 the teas are finally packed suitably to the foreign 

 markets. Here, also, the Shan-see merchants or 

 factors procure and pack their teas for the Russian 

 markets. I believe it to be altogether an error to 

 suppose that any other part of China furnishes the 

 Congou and superior teas ; or that any other than 

 the Hyson districts of Moo-yuen and Yu-ning supply 

 the Hyson tea, and the districts in the immediate 

 vicinity, the Twankay tea. The rumours recently 

 spread, that some of these teas are now procured, 

 or ever were procured, from other parts of China, 

 I believe to be wholly undeserving of credit. It is 

 not easy in China to obtain accurate information 

 concerning remote districts. Some Congou teas are 

 also packed at the villages where the teas are col- 

 lected, as at To-pa, and some few other places. These 

 may generally be distinguished by the dark green 

 colour of the chests. The Sing-csun chests are of 

 a lighter colour, and somewhat yellow. The Pekoe 



