Description

Whilst in Foochow [Fuzhou] Carles has tried to get definite information on the woods used for tea chests. Sir William Jackson Hooker made an enquiry on the subject through the Foreign Office in 1883. The information Carles has is very incomplete, but he hopes to supplement it if he returns to Foochow. Carles cannot confirm Mr Sinclair's statement that the wood comes from Ting chou Fu: while that may be the source used at Amoy, in Foochow the source of supply is Kien ning Fu. Sinclair is also incorrect in saying that Pine wood is used exclusively. Carles has samples of 11 different woods all used for the manufacture of tea chests, which he will send Thiselton-Dyer. Having learnt the local names of these woods, Carles sent a man to try and obtain specimens of the trees in fruit or flower. Carles is sending Thiselton-Dyer the gathered specimens, but it is hard to know if they are from the right trees because of the variations of names. A medical missionary at Kieng ning Fu told Carles that the knottiest, most worthless woods are the ones used for tea chests. Carles will also send Thiselton-Dyer a collection of woods made by a native enthusiast. He will send further specimens when he is packing up to leave Foochow. Annotated. Page 1 of 4.

Description

Whilst in Foochow [Fuzhou] Carles has tried to get definite information on the woods used for tea chests. Sir William Jackson Hooker made an enquiry on the subject through the Foreign Office in 1883. The information Carles has is very incomplete, but he hopes to supplement it if he returns to Foochow. Carles cannot confirm Mr Sinclair's statement that the wood comes from Ting chou Fu: while that may be the source used at Amoy, in Foochow the source of supply is Kien ning Fu. Sinclair is also incorrect in saying that Pine wood is used exclusively. Carles has samples of 11 different woods all used for the manufacture of tea chests, which he will send Thiselton-Dyer. Having learnt the local names of these woods, Carles sent a man to try and obtain specimens of the trees in fruit or flower. Carles is sending Thiselton-Dyer the gathered specimens, but it is hard to know if they are from the right trees because of the variations of names. A medical missionary at Kieng ning Fu told Carles that the knottiest, most worthless woods are the ones used for tea chests. Carles will also send Thiselton-Dyer a collection of woods made by a native enthusiast. He will send further specimens when he is packing up to leave Foochow. Annotated. Page 1 of 4.