192 BRICK OR TILE TEA. 



Asiatic Society. The two specimens first alluded 

 to were of different qualities ; the first superior 

 to many Congous imported into England, and was 

 employed by me for domestic use, so long as it 

 lasted ; the other was of inferior quality. This 

 indicates, as has already been surmised, that form 

 may have little to do with quality ; moreover, that 

 the compressed form of the brick tea may be 

 adopted in many cases with advantage. Again, it 

 is possible that the tea here alluded to was of the 

 same description as that spoken of by Moorcroft as 

 of superior quality, and as coming from Yarkand 

 to Bokhara ; which tea was packed in chests, not in 

 skins. 



It may now be observed that the brick tea is 

 extensively used throughout every part of Central 

 Asia, from the Gulph of Corea and the great wall 

 of China on the east, to the Caspian Sea on the 

 west ; and from the Altai chain in the north, to 

 the Himalaya mountains on the south. It is also 

 largely used in Siberia, and somewhat in the Cau- 

 casus ; in short, wherever the Calmuc and Mongo- 

 lian races have extended themselves. " The Cal- 

 mucs," says Bergam, " are great consumers of this 

 tea." And it is truly observed by the Edinburgh 

 reviewer that, " like Boniface's ale, it is meat and 

 drink to them. It is mixed with milk, salt, and 

 butter, so that it forms a more substantial diet 

 than the fragrant fluid which smokes on our tables. 

 This preparation requires time and care, and the 



