46 



MAEKET. 



Chap. III. 



the price paid was at the rate of threepence to 

 fivepence a pound, but to this must be added the 

 expense of manipulation. In this manner the 

 inhabitants of large towns in China, who have no 

 tea-farms of their own, can buy the raw leaves in 

 the market, and manufacture the beverage for 

 themselves and in their own way. 



The streets in the city of Tse-kee are narrow, 

 and the shops for the most part have a mean 

 appearance. The wealthy inhabitants, with whom 

 the city abounds, appear to get their supplies of 

 everything except food from the large cities, such 

 as Ningpo and Hangchow. But food must be 

 supplied on the spot, and hence the necessity for 

 such a fine market as I have noticed. It is here 

 as in western countries — the market takes place 

 in the morning. In the afternoon this busy 

 street was almost deserted : the fishmonger had 

 sold his fish, the butcher his pork ; and all that 

 band of rosy-cheeked countrymen who in the 

 morning had been vending their loads of vege- 

 tables and fruits had returned to their homes with 

 strings of cash, the proceeds of their sales, in their 

 baskets or slung over their shoulders. 



The scenery round the ancient city of Tse-kee is 

 of the most romantic and beautiful description. 

 The city stands on a flat plain, and is surrounded 

 by hills varying in height from two or three hun- 

 dred to one thousand feet above the level of the 

 plain. Some are crowned with temples having a 

 most imposing appearance in the distance, and from 



