364 [Assembly 



Bohea of Woping or Canton, 



Bohea of Fokein, Pearl Gimpowder, 



Congou, Imperial Gunpowder, 



Cowpoi congou, Twankey, 



Fine flowery j>ekoe. Hyson skin. 



Cape, Young Hyson, 



Orange Pekoe, Hyson, 



Ankor Souchong, . Among the green teas. 

 Souchong, 

 Among the black teas. 



And they cost in China, from one shilling to three shillings 

 per pound. The names above given, are known in China as cor- 

 ruptions of their language ; though they generally describe teas 

 among themselves as inferior, middling, and superior. A good 

 Chinese tea judge, who has experience in the business, can dis- 

 criminate teas by the smell, and agreeabieness of their odor. 



Tea should never be exposed to the air alter it is piepared tor 

 packing, preparatory to exportation. 



The Chinese prevent this by an ingenious and effectual method 

 of preparing their packing boxes, which usually come to this 

 country lined with lead. The operation of getting them in readi- 

 ness is performed thus. A man places himself in a sitting pos- 

 ture, upon the floor, before a large flat stone, and at the same 

 time he holds another flat stone upon its edge. A small quantity 

 of melted lead is poured upon the horizontal slab by an assistant, 

 when he immediately lets the vertical stone fall upon it, which 

 presses it out into a thin sheet ; these sheets are trimmed into 

 proper shape, and used for the linings to the boxes, w^hich are 

 made of thin hard wood, dove-tailed at the corners, and covered 

 with paper containing Chinese hieroglyphics illegible to most per- 

 sons. 



The consumption of tea is enormous, as the following table will 

 show: 



