MaV 2, 1892.] tut TRbPieAL 
799 
A partial translation will now be given of the 
leading features in this practical and instructive essay ; 
and the faithful rendering into English will even 
preserve some of the peculiarities of expression of 
the original. 
The teas of Russia, of which we occupy ourselves 
more especially in this study, are nothing else than 
the best crude teas of China. They are, in some sort, 
for the teas in general, what the Ohateaux-Laffite 
or the Chateaux- Yquem brands are for the wines of 
France, 
The plantations are, since nearly two centuries, 
engrossed or monopolised by the Russians or by 
their correspondents on the Chinese markets, and 
particularly at Hangkow, which is their veritable 
quarter-general. The Russian merchants at Moscow 
(the chief tea-depot of the European east) have 
numerous buyers in China, on the same spots of 
E reduction, and cause their different teas to come 
y caravan. 
The convoys which are formed at Tientsin are 
sent in a northerly direction, after which the camels 
transport these merchandises across the great and 
grand desert of Gobi, arrived at Mai-Ma-Tchin and 
then at Kiachta, ville situate on the Siberian frontier. 
It is in this neighbourhood that are centralised 
equally the teas of the septentrional provinces of 
China, which the inhabitants exchange for Russian 
merchandises and some manufactured objects. 
It is at Kiachta also that are found estab- 
lished the premier bureaux of sale and of re- 
expedition of the principal Russian Houses, who con- 
trol carefully the merchandise, take the quantity 
necessary to the needs of the country, then put the 
cases in an envelope of cowskin of which the hair 
is turned to the interior, and send them to Irkoutsk. 
In this latter ville exists a new tea exchange, or 
comptoir, which takes the provision necessary for 
the commerce in tea of this country, and then 
causes to follow or forward the gross-bulk of the cargo 
train upon Tomsk and on Irbit. 
Naturally, in this country, covered with snow pend- 
ing the major part of the year, the sledges, chariots, 
and horses have replaced the camels. 
It is at Irbit where each year has placed the grandest 
Asiatic fair, when myriads of nationalities flock to- 
gether to do business, and when an important sale 
of teas is made ; after which the convoys traverse 
the Ural gaining the Volga, in leaving a certain 
number of bales in each ville encountered on their 
route. 
Once arrived at Nijni-Novgorod by the way of the 
grand river, the cases, of which the number is now 
much diminished, pass into the railway waggons, 
which conduct them to Moscow, from whence they 
are repanded or distributed in all parts of the nigh 
boundless state of Russia, as well as to abroad. 
The caravans, of which we have come to indicate the 
itinerary, part from Hangkow in the month of May, 
arriving at Irbit (in the Asiatic part of the Govern- 
ment of Perm) about the middle of February of the 
year following, and, after having mounted in sledges 
the congealed course of the Volga, they attain Nijni- 
Novgorod in March, and Moscow in April. 
That makes 11 months of voyage to traverse China, 
Siberia, and the orient of Russia. 
Russian tea is an excellent tonic and nutritive 
drink. These two qualities are due in part to two 
elements : the theine and the tannin. More the tea 
contains the theine, more it will be of value ; further, 
— a detail to note, — is that the tea is more nutritive 
than coffee, because it is always more rich in theine 
tlian coffee is in cafeine. 
Other than its native superiority, that which has 
made tlio Russian tea what it is and will be always 
— tlio best of all the teas — is this : that, coming by 
land and not being exposed to the atmopshere humid 
and warm of the holds of ships, it has no need to 
undergo the preparations indispensable to all teas 
coining by soa. 
Among the diffovont varieties of tea the most liked 
by tlio amateurs, we must cite, in the black teas, 
for example the Ki-Chin; in the flower-teas, the 
Sio-Faioum; in the green teas, the Van-Kcdzi ; and 
(U the yellow teas, tho Ven-Ki and tho Ta-tchou. 
There may be signalised as a great specialty 
of the leading Russian houses, the tea in 
tablettes (a brevetted system). This is a pro- 
duct of excellent quality, compressed in a fashion 
guard concentrated all its force and all its aroma 
under the most petty volume possible. The voyagers, 
the chasers or sportsmen, the soldiers of all condi- 
tions appreciate it much in Russia, where they have 
named these tablettes "plitochni." 
One must not confound these "plitochni" with the 
tea in bricks, of inferior quality named "kirpichni, " 
of which use is made by the Kalmoucks, the Tartars, 
and the classes the most poor of the Siberian popu- 
lations. 
The tea in tablettes, which is broken in several 
morsels, is cast into boiling water the same aa when 
making tea by infusing the leaves. A tab- 
lette suffices for making at least 120 cups of tea quite 
strong enough. It is prepared very rapidly, and pos- 
sesses the same aroma and the same hygienic qualities 
as the different species which we have just cited 
higher up. 
In resumen, owing to the powerful organization of 
this enterprise, we believe that the Russian teas, of 
which the price is not much superior to that for 
Chinese teas properly styled, or of the English teas, 
have their place marked in all the families of con- 
tinental Europe, and in all the establishments of 
consumption caf^s, hotelsl, restaurants, where, in be- 
coming a favorite drink, they take range among the 
most precious auxiliaries of the public health. 
Of course, everybody to their tastes: many persons of 
judgment there are who do not care for Russian teas. 
We know, among our friends, some resolute amateurs 
of tea, a petty number of adversaries more or less 
decided and a quantity of gents indifferent or un- 
decided, recognising themselves incapable, after some 
contradictory experiences, of declaring for or against 
the famous infusion adored by the Chinese, the 
Russians, and the English. 
This is, according to us, exclusively due to the 
multiple frauds of which tea is the object, that one 
has to attribute the hesitations of the public to pro- 
nounce in favour of certain infusions more or less 
faded and disagreeable, which he is made, to take or 
has passed off on him for some Chinese tea or Rus- 
sian tea. 
Such is the veritable cause which, unto now, has 
prevented in France the consumption on an extensive 
scale of these different products. 
The subject is of interest not only to the general 
public, but also to business people. Some practical and 
edifying information has been given, such as seldom 
the community is made acquainted with. L. A, 
: « 
OUR PORTRAITS. 
MR. CHAELES ARTHUR TUETON. 
We are always glad to be able to add to tho list 
of portraits which have already appeared in this 
journal any that are of persons who have claims to 
public notice, and this we think the subject of our 
portrait this week, Mr. C. A. Turton, has, in that he 
is the inventor of one of the most useful inventions 
relating to tea manufacture that has perhaps ever 
been before the public. 
Mr. Turton is the son of the late Rev. Henry 
Turton, m.a., of Sugnall Hall, Staffordshire, Vicar 
of BetW in the same county, and was born on the 
Hth of January 1817. He was educated at Bradfield 
College, Berkshire, and on leaving school he went 
to a private tutor as he was intended for the Home 
Civil Service for which he had a nomination. This 
however he threw up and elected to go into business 
in Liverpool. He remained in Liverpool during a 
continuous period of seven years in tlie service of 
one of tho largest mercantile houses in that city. 
During the depression in tlie cotton trade in the 
year 1S70, brought about chiefly by the Franco- 
Prussian war, Mr. Turton suffered some pecuniary 
losses, and seeing little prospect of obtiuniug a 
partnership in any good tirm in Liverpool, he elected 
to emigrate to tlie Shining East, anc\ ijelQQted A^sam 
aa the tick! for his future operatjops, ~ 
