356 DIFFERENCE OF COST AT 



distance of about 270 miles. The transit of the 

 teas occupies about four or five days ; and the 

 expense of conveyance does not exceed 4 mace, 

 3 candareens the pecul ; whereas, by the usual route 

 through the province of Kiangsy, it costs no less 

 than 3 tales, 9 mace, 2 candareens, as already shown. 

 The difference of cost of Congou tea at Canton 

 and at Foo-chew-foo, may be thus stated: — 



Canton. Foo-chew-foo. 



Tales, m. c. Tales, m. c. 



Cost of cultivation and manipulation -1200 1200 



Cost of chests, canisters, and packing 13 1 13 1 



Expense of transit - - -392 043 



Government duties - - - 2 2 



Profit to factors or merchants, charges 



of shipment, &c. 15 per cent, say - 2 2 



21 2 3 17 7 4 



Thus teas ought to be bought from 15 to 17 per 

 cent, cheaper at Foo-chew-foo than at Canton. 



But there are savings on other items connected 

 with the transit of the teas to Canton, and those 

 considerable, the precise amount of which cannot 

 be estimated : such as the personal expenses of the 

 tea men ; those of their clerks and others attending 

 the boats ; loss of time, and loss of comfort in being 

 separated so far and so long from their homes and 

 families ; the expense of transport of silver from 

 Canton to the amount of 3,000,000 dollars annually ; 

 interest of money at a high rate, and damage of 

 goods. All these expenses fall, either directly or 

 indirectly, on the price of tea, and obviously must 



