168 BOHEA TEA, 



sy, is a tedious and expensive journey of about 800 

 miles, occupying about forty days or two months. 



The great saving of time and expense thus effected 

 by the conveyance of the Bohea tea by so novel 

 a route, immediately attracted the attention of the 

 Tea Men ; and during the four following years a 

 vast quantity of Congou tea was brought to Canton 

 by the same channel. 



The jealousy of the Canton Government, however, 

 was soon excited by the Hong merchants; and 

 finally, in consequence of gross misrepresentations 

 transmitted to the Court of Peking, an Imperial 

 Edict was obtained, prohibiting the transit of tea 

 by sea to parts of the empire south of the port of 

 Foo-chew-foo. But for this interference, little doubt 

 can be entertained that the whole or the greater 

 part of the black teas would shortly have been 

 brought to Canton by sea. And were this edict 

 rescinded, or no longer in force, there seems little 

 reason to doubt that the black teas would again 

 find their way to Canton by this route, as formerly ; 

 and thus afford a practical illustration of the capa- 

 bilities of the internal navigation, the practicability 

 of the port, and the apparently exaggerated and 

 ungrounded reports and apprehensions with which 

 the Europeans resident at Canton are at present 

 assailed. 



But in the present temper of the Imperial Govern- 

 ment, any rescinding of the edict may be hopeless, 

 though it may be prudent to keep the removal of 



