Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/547

 ARTICLES OF IMPORTATION. 531 The tea imported into the Indian Islands by this convey- ance will cost 8|d, pev lb., and will of course be dearer than the teas brought by the junk by 2|d. per lb., or nearly by 46 per cent. The advantage which the European consumer would receive by the tea trade being conducted in this channel, may be shewn by tracing the progress of the commodity in the course of a free trade. If black tea could be laid in at one of the emporiums of the Archipelago at 6d. per pound, it would be no exaggeration to state the cost of the best hyson at only Is. 7d. a pound. The sketch of the voyage will then be as follows : For a ship -t)f 1-00 tons burden. Hyson, 8Sf tons, or TpjG^i^ lbs. at Is. 7d. per lb., is - - - - L.6,305 3 8^ Black tea, 311^ tons, or 357,155| lbs., at .Gd.perlb., - - - - 8,928 17 9 Freight at L.S per ton, - - - 3,200 Insurance at 4 per cent., - - - 612 Export duties and port charges, say 5 per cent,, 761 14 1 Profit, 20 per cent.,, . - - 3,046 16 3| Total, L.22,854 11 10 By this calculation, hyson tea might be imported into England at 2s. 2id. per Ib.j and black tea at 9^d.