CANTON AND FOO-CHEW-FOO. 357 



be greatly diminished by our trade being conducted 

 at the port nearest the spot where the black teas, 

 the principal article of export, are grown and ma- 

 nufactured. 



It further appears, that good Congou tea, such as 

 used formerly to cost 27 tales the pecul at Canton, 

 ought now to be purchased at the port of Foo- 

 chew-foo at from 17 to 18 tales the pecul, or about 

 lOd. to lOf d. the lb. This, then, should be the 

 price which the foreign merchants ought to pay at 

 this port : and this may be the probable price with 

 which the cultivator of tea in other parts of the 

 world may ultimately have to contend. 



But should no more reduction take place in the 

 price of tea at Canton than has hitherto been 

 experienced, in consequence of the great compe- 

 tition which prevails among the purchasers of tea, 

 then the same description of tea, bought at 27 tales 

 the pecul, would cost no less than 16d. at Canton ; 

 or 14c?. the pound, when purchased at the most 

 favourable port of the empire. It must be borne 

 in mind that these calculations are framed after 

 the usual mode of considering the value of the tale 

 to be 6s. 8<i., or 55. 6d. the ounce of silver. 



Thus, it appears, that, under the most favorable 

 circumstances, the Chinese are not able to furnish 

 good teas, suitable to general consumption, at 

 a less cost than from lOd. to lid. the pound; 

 and, from the present state of our commercial 

 relations with China, it seems probable that the 



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