166 BOHEA TEA. 



because it consisted of the old full-grown leaves 

 which remained on the shrubs after the regular tea 

 harvest had been gathered. It was formerly 

 brought from the Bohea country in baskets, in an 

 unmanipulated state, to be roasted and packed at 

 Canton. On its arrival, some had a heated sour 

 smell; some a musty, and others a saponaceous 

 smell : so that all this tea had, I imagine, under- 

 gone a partial, if not complete, fermentation. 

 Nevertheless it entirely lost this objectionable cha- 

 racter in the subsequent process of roasting, though 

 it still remained of very inferior quality. 



Some years since a great improvement was 

 effected in the quality of this tea, as well as in all 

 the arrangements connected with it. An attempt 

 was made to discontinue the drying and packing at 

 Canton ; and to obtain it packed, and of suitable 

 quality, direct from the tea country. Instead of the 

 bulky chests containing 300 lbs. of tea, a size which 

 long custom had sanctioned without much reflec- 

 tion or consideration, others were now constructed 

 of dimensions more convenient, both for stowage on 

 board ship, and for transport down the country. 



Mr. Elphinstone (to whom I am happy in having 

 an opportunity of alluding), then the president of 

 the Select Committee for the management of the 

 British affairs in China, a man of enlarged views, 

 of great firmness of character combined with a most 

 conciliating disposition and mild deportment, and 

 who was well known for his strenuous and success- 



