42 



WAGES AND FOOD OF LABOURERS. Chap. III. 



the ground in order to render it steady, and as 

 easily drawn out and carried to a different spot. 

 When these tea-gatherers are hired they are not 

 paid by the day, but by the quantity of leaves 

 they bring in to their employers. In making 

 inquiries on the point I found they were paid at 

 the rate of four and five cash a catty, and that 

 they were able to gather from thirty to forty catty 

 a-day.* In other words, each was able to gather 

 from forty to fifty-three pounds of raw leaves per 

 day, for which was received from Qd. to 9d., or 

 thereabouts. But it is only very expert and well- 

 trained hands that can make such a sum as this ; 

 children and very old people make, of course, some- 

 thing considerably less. Wages of labourers in the 

 tea districts of China range from 2d. to 3d. per day 

 with their food, which is almost always furnished 

 by the farmers, and which may cost about M. or 

 M. more, making the whole day's labour amount 

 to Qd. or 7d. The food of these people is of the 

 simplest kind — namely, rice, vegetables, and a 

 small portion of animal food, such as fish or pork. 

 But the poorest classes in China seem to under- 

 stand the art of preparing their food much better 

 than the same classes at home. With the simple 

 substances I have named the Chinese labourer 

 contrives to make a number of very savoury 

 dishes, upon which he breakfasts or dines most 

 sumptuously. In Scotland, in former days — and I 

 suppose it is much the same now — the harvest 



* 100 cash are about 4:^d. of our money ; a catty is equal to 1^ lb. 



