CHAPTER IX
MY FIRST TRIP TO THE TEA DISTRICTS
On the 11th of March, 1859, I found myself
on board of a Woo-Sik-Kwei, a Chinese boat
built in Woo-Sik, a city situated on the borders
of the Grand Canal, within a short distance of
the famous city of Suchau — a rival of the city of
Hangchau, for wealth, population, silk
manufacture, and luxury. The word “Kwei” means
“fast.” Therefore, Woo-Sik-Kwei means fast
boats of Woo-Sik. These passenger boats which
plied between the principal cities and marts
situated near the waters of the canal and lake
system in southern Kianksu, were usually built
of various sizes and nicely fitted up for the
comfort and convenience of the public. Those
intended for officials, and the wealthy classes,
were built on a larger scale and fitted up in a
more pretentious style. They were all
flat-bottom boats. They sailed fairly well before
the wind, but against it, they were either tracked
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