Chap. XII. TSONG-GAN-HIEN. 221 



They seem hoary with age, and were doubtless built 

 in more warlike times than the present. The popu- 

 lation may amount to one hundred thousand inha- 

 bitants, but I have no means of forming a correct 

 estimate. The suburbs, which I include in this cal- 

 culation, are very large and populous, and extend a 

 considerable way down the sides of the river. 



This city abounds in large tea-hongs, in which the 

 black teas are sorted and packed for the foreign 

 markets. All those coolies whom I had met on my 

 journey across the mountains were loaded here. Tea 

 merchants from all parts of China where teas are 

 consumed or exported come to this place to make 

 their purchases of tea and the necessary arrangements 

 for its transport. Canton men in particular come in 

 great numbers, as they carry on a large trade with 

 foreigners both at Canton and Shanghae. I saw 

 many of them walking about in the streets, but for 

 obvious reasons avoided them as much as possible. 

 They are easily distinguished by their features from 

 the natives of Fokien, as well as from the more 

 northern Chinese. 



The plain in which the town of Tsong-gan-hien is 

 situated is not of great extent. Hills are seen appa- 

 rently surrounding it on all sides, on some of which 

 the tea-shrub is extensively cultivated. Many of 

 these hills have a most barren appearance, although 

 there are here and there very fertile spots on their 

 sloping sides. Tea is also cultivated extensively in 

 the lowlands, but these are invariably well raised 

 above the banks of the river. It will be better, how- 



