202 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. XI. 



chest. These I was told were the finer teas; the 

 chest was never allowed to touch the ground during 

 the journey, and hence these teas generally arrive at 

 their destination in much better order than the coarser 

 kinds. The single chests were carried in the follow- 

 ing manner. Two bamboos, each about seven feet 

 long, had their ends lashed firmly to the chest, one 

 on each side. The other ends were brought together, 

 so as to form a triangle. By this means a man could 

 carry the chest upon his shoulders, with his head 

 between the bamboos in the centre of the triangle. 

 A small piece of wood was lashed under the chest, 

 to give it an easy seat upon the shoulders. The 

 accompanying sketch will give a better idea of this 

 curious mode of carrying tea than any description. 



When the coolie who carried his burden in this 

 way wanted to rest, he placed the end of the bam- 



