BOHEA TEA. 187 



be kept up throughout the stands and around every 

 part of the baskets. Each tier contains 20 baskets, 

 or 120 on either side of the chamber. The usual 

 quantity roasted at one time in the several chambers 

 is sufficient to pack 400 large chests of Bohea, each 

 weighing 132 catties ; thus making the total quan- 

 tity in all the chambers 528 peculs, or 70,400 lbs. 

 of tea. 



Goqua, a Hong merchant, informed me that each 

 of his chambers contained 300 baskets of fifty catties 

 each ; and that the roasting was continued three 

 days, the charcoal being renewed every six hours, 

 at the rate of two and a-half peculs each time, or 

 ten peculs the night and day ; thus making the 

 consumption of charcoal 30 peculs to 150 peculs 

 of tea, or as 1 to 5. A pecul is 133^ lbs. 



The following are the dimensions of three sets 

 of chambers belonging to Conseequa, Chun qua, and 

 Goqua. 



The window in Chunqua's roasting houses was 

 2*6 ft. by 1*10 ft. wide. Agreeably to Consee- 

 qua's statement, his chambers would only roast 

 240 baskets each, or 140 peculs of tea ; thus making 

 the contents of each basket 58^ instead of 50, as 

 stated by Goqua. 



