Chap. XIV. 
PROFITS OF THE CHINESE. 
229 
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 state- 
ments. Again, it is to be remarked that in 1848, when 
the prices were from 14 to 22 taels, the Chinese com- 
plained that they were ruinously low. But the average 
of even these prices would be ] 8 taels, thus showing an 
average 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 Chinese 
dealers and brokers could not be amply remunerated by 
a lower price than any yet quoted. 
