606 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[China, 



The following are the tares and allowances on teas at the East India 

 Company^ sales : — 



When goods are received into the Private Trade warehouses, they 

 are brought to sale with all possible dispatch. In these warehouses an 

 even beam is never admitted ; but in such cases a one pound weight is always 

 added to the tare ; and on all packages taring 28 lbs. or upwards, one pound 

 super-tare is allowed. 



Upon packages weighing 28 lbs. gross, a two ounce weight is placed 

 in the scale, by way of giving a turn in favour of the trade. One pound is 

 also allowed for draught on goods of the above weight, and in case of an even 

 beam, one pound is deducted ; this pound is also allowed by the Excise, 

 and also the two ounce weight, which the Excise allow on tea only. 



In taring goods, the scale in which the weights are placed, is allowed 

 to preponderate. On quarter chests, if on averaging those tared, they turn 

 out even pounds, no further allowance is made, unless the chest weighs gross 

 84 lbs. or upwards, in which case one pound is allowed for super-tare on 

 each package; but if there be a fraction, the fraction wanting is only 

 allowed. Thus if the average tare be 22 lbs-, the allowance is 23 lbs., and it 

 is the same, viz. 23 lbs., if the average tare Ik? 221 lbs. On half chests, if on 

 averaging those tared, they turn out even pounds, a pound is allowed for 

 super-tare on each package ; and if there be a traction, it is reckoned a pound, 

 as before : thus if the average tare be 36 lbs., the allowance is 37 lbs., and if 

 36 \ lbs. the allowance is 38 lbs. 



On whole chests, if on averaging those tared, they turn out even 

 pounds, 2 lbs. are allowed on each package for super-tare; but if there 

 be a fraction, 1 lb. and the fraction wanting are allowed. Thus if the 

 average tare be 66 lbs., the allowance is 68 lbs., and it is the same if the 

 average tare be 66* lbs. 



The foregoing allowances on tea are also made by the Excise, under 

 which revenue, tea is now exclusively placed. 



Teas are generally allotted and arranged for sale by the East India 

 Company, according to the Chinese chops, which indicate them to be of one 

 growth : all the Hyson teas in one mark or chop being classed in the same 

 bed or parcel, which thus become almost synonymous terms : they are then 

 subdivided into lots of a certain number of chests, because it is found that 

 the tea in each chop is always exactly the same kind, although it may happen 

 to be rather fresher and better in one year than in another. The number of 

 chests in a lot are usually 



