Chap. XV. 



COST AND EXPENSES. 



269 



catty, a sum probably higher than that which is 

 actually paid. But suppose 160 cash per catty is 

 the original cost, the matter would stand thus : — 



Cost of tea at 160 cash per catty ... 8 taels per picul. 

 Total charges, as before, less the cost of tea 5*773 „ 



13-773 



In round numbers, the whole cost of bringing these 

 fine teas to the port of Shanghae is 14 taels. The 

 average price received from the English merchant 

 during these four years appears, from the above 

 prices, to have been about 22 taels, thus showing a 

 clear profit of 8 taels per picul. 



Before drawing our conclusions, however, it may 

 be proper to mention that in the years 1846 and 

 1847 the trade in Shanghae was chiefly carried on 

 by barter, which was managed through some Canton 

 brokers then resident in Shanghae. Under these 

 circumstances, it was difficult for any one not in the 

 brokers' secret to say what was the exact sum paid to 

 the Tsong-gan tea-dealer. It was probably, however, 

 something considerably less than what it appears to 

 have been by the above statements. Again, it is to 

 be remarked that in 1848, when the prices were 

 from 14 to 22 taels, the Chinese complained that 

 they were ruinously low. But the average of even 

 these prices would be 18 taels, thus showing an aver- 

 age profit of 4 taels per picul. Considering that this 

 large trade is in comparatively few hands, even this, 

 the lowest class of profits, must amount to a very 

 large sum. It seems even a question whether the 



