Chap. XIV. 
COST AND EXPENSES. 
227 
merchant a knowledge of the Chinese language, which 
enabled him to give me valuable aid in the item of 
expense. 
In the first place let us examine the expenses upon 
what is called good common Congou. By this is meant 
such tea as was selling in England in December, 1848, 
at about 8d per pound. This tea was sold in Shanghae 
at about 12 taels per picul in 1846, 11 taels in 1847, 
from 9 to 10 taels in 1848, and 11 taels in July, 1849. 
These prices included the export duty. 
I will suppose this tea to be brought from the town of 
Tsong-gan-hien by the route which I have already 
described. The expenses for coolie and boat hire upon 
it will be nearly as follows : — 
Tsong-gan-hien to Hokow (by laud) . . 
Cash. 
. 800 per chest. 
Hokow to Yiik-shan (by water) . . . 
.150 
Yuk-shan to Chang-shan (by land) . . 
.400 
Chang-shan to Hang-chow-foo (by water) 
.200 
Expenses for coolies at Hang-chow-foo . 
. 10 
Hang-chow-foo to Shanghae (by water) 
.180 , , 
Total for carriage . . . . 
1740 
1740 cash per chest would amount to 2718 cash per 
picul, which, converted into silver, would be about 1 
dollar 80 cents, or 1'359 taela To this sum must be 
added the cost of tea in the tea-country, the expenses of 
the wholesale dealers for inspection, charcoal, and labour 
in extra firing, the cost of the chest and packing, and 
custom-house and export duties. 
Such tea as that above referred to is sold by the culti- 
