220 siR JOHN FRANCIS DAVIS'S REMARKS ([Cuap. XI. 
preparation to the existing nature of the demand. ‘The dif- 
ferent kinds of tea may be considered in the ascending scale of 
their value. 
“1, Bohea, which in England is the name of a quality, has 
been already stated to be, in China, the name of a district 
where various kinds of black tea are produced, The coarse 
leaf brought under that name to this country is distinguished 
by containing a larger proportion of the woody fibre than other 
teas ; its infusion is of a darker colour, and as it has been more 
subjected to the action of fire, it keeps a longer time without 
becoming musty than the finer sorts. 'Two kinds of Bohea are 
brought from China: the lowest of these is manufactured on 
the spot, and therefore called ‘Canton Bohea,’ being a mixture 
of refuse Congou with a coarse tea called Woping, the growth 
of the province. The better kind of Bohea comes from the 
district of that name in Fokien, and, having been of late es- 
teemed equally with the lower Congou teas, has been packed in 
the same square chests, while the old Bohea package is of an 
oblong shape. 
* 2. Congou, the next higher kind, is named from a corruption 
of the Chinese Koong foo, ‘labour or assiduity. It formed 
for many years the bulk of the East India Company’s cargoes ; 
but the quality gradually fell off, in consequence of the partial 
abandonment of the old system of annual contracts, by which 
the Chinese merchants were assured of a remunerating price 
for the better sorts. The consumption of Bohea in this country 
has of late years increased, to the diminution of Congou, and 
the standard of the latter has been considerably lowered. A 
particular variety, called Campoi, is so called from a corruption 
of the original name Kien-peoy, ‘selection — choice ;’ but it 
has ceased to be prized in this country, from the absence of 
strength —a characteristic which is stated to be generally 
esteemed beyond delicacy of flavour. 
“3. Souchong ( Seaou-choong, ‘small, or scarce sort’) is the 
finest of the stronger black teas, with a leaf that is generally 
entire and curly, but more young than in the coarser kinds. 
What is called ‘ Padre Souchong’ is packed in separate paper 
bundles, of about half a pound each, and is so fine as to be used 
almost exclusively for presents. The probability is that its use 
in that way by the Catholic missionaries first gave rise to the 
