333 



CHAP. XIII. 



INTRODUCTION OF THE CULTIVATION AND MANIPULATION OF TEA 



INTO INDIA. SUPPOSED LOW RATE OF WAGES IN CHINA, 



AND GREAT COST OF PRODUCTION EXAMINED. MODE OF 



LIVING OF THE HINDOO CULTIVATOR OF THE CHINESE CUL- 

 TIVATOR. COMPARATIVE RATE OF WAGES IN THE TWO 



COUNTRIES. — SKETCH OF THE TRADE UNDER THE EAST 



INDIA COMPANY. EFFECTS ON PRICE SINCE THE ABOLITION 



OF THE CHARTER GREAT PROFITS OF THE HONG MERCHANT. 



EXPENSE OF TRANSPORT OF TEA FROM THE TEA COUNTRY 



TO CANTON AND FOO-CHEW-FOO COMPARED. COST OF TEA 



AT ITS SEAT OF GROWTH. — COST TO THE EUROPEAN AT CANTON 



AT FOO-CHEW-FOO. PRICE AVITH WHICH THE CULTIVATOR 



AYILL HAA T E TO COMPETE. COST OF PRODUCTION AT ASSAM 



KAMAON — JAVA AND THE BRAZILS. 



The discovery of the tea tree in Assam, and the 

 recent successful cultivation of the Chinese plant 

 at Kamaon, in the upper provinces of India, encou- 

 rage a Avell-grouncled hope, that this valuable tree 

 may soon be enumerated among the useful products 

 of our extensive Eastern possessions, and thus 

 conduce to the comfort of the native inhabitants, 

 as well as to the internal prosperity and commercial 

 relations of the country. 



It is generally admitted that the natives of India 

 have a decided predilection for tea ; and could this 

 article be afforded at a sufficiently Ioav price, little 

 doubt is entertained that its consumption would 



