262 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. XV. 



chest or picul of tea when it arrives at the port 

 whence it is to be exported. If I am able to give 

 this information with any degree of accuracy, we shall 

 then see what amount of profits the Chinese have 

 been in the habit of making by this trade, and whether 

 there is any probability of their being able to lower 

 their prices, and so, with a reduction of our own 

 import duties, to place a healthful and agreeable 

 beverage — 



" The cup 

 That cheers, but not inebriates," — 



within the reach of the whole of our population. 



I shall, therefore, endeavour to give a description 

 of the route by which the black teas are brought from 

 the country where they are made to the ports of 

 exportation — Canton or Shanghae. We have already 

 seen that nearly all the teas grown in the fine districts 

 about Woo-e-shan are brought to the city of Tsong- 

 gan-hien by the merchants who buy them from the 

 small tea-farmers, and that they are there made into 

 chops, and sold to the dealers connected with the 

 foreign tea-trade, the chief part of whom are Canton 

 men. 



A chop of tea having been purchased by one of 

 these merchants, a number of coolies are engaged to 

 carry the chests northward, across the Bohea moun- 

 tains, to Hokow, or rather to the small town of 

 Yuen-shan, a few miles from Hokow, to which it is 

 sent by boat. If the teas are of the common kind, 

 each coolie carries two chests slung over his shoul- 

 ders on his favourite bamboo. These chests are often 



