CHINESE TRADE. 



439 



Tea in Balls* 



IN China there is a kind of tea called 

 poncuUtchay to which the Europeans give 

 the name of Ua in balls. It is procured 

 from the province of Fk-ichkni or Tunnan^ 

 and is a compofition or mixture of different 

 teas formed into balls. When it is ufed, a 

 fmall quantity of it is cut off, and fuffered to 

 infufe a much longer time than common 

 tea. It is not agreeable to the tafte, but it 

 has the peculiar virtue of curing diforders 

 of the breaft, and facilitating digeilion. Some 

 of this tea is brought alfo from Slangy ang^ 

 a town in the province of Houquang^ but it 

 is inferior in quality to the former. The 

 latter may be eafdy known, by apply- 

 ing it to the mooth, and breathing ftrongly 

 upon it ; if it is penetrated by the breath, it 

 is accounted genuine. The older the pott" 

 F f 4 cul-icha 



