The Amsterdam Exhibition.
It is intended to have Indian Tea well represented at the forthcoming Exhibition at Amsterdam; and we trust that the most will be made of the opportunity. There is no reason why we should not succeed in Holland as well as we have succeeded in America and Australia. The rapid strides going on in production must be met by exceptionally active exertions to open out new markets, and to see that those recently opened out are not allowed to drop for want of fostering.
The effect of this opportunity will be by no means limited to Holland, as in all probability thousands will flock to the Exhibition from adjacent countries, and many from all parts of the world.
We hope that every advantage will be taken of future International Exhibitions in any part of the world by an adequate quasi-permanent organization in Calcutta, and we sincerely trust that the existing Calcutta Tea Syndicate will not cease its most useful operations until all the world bows to the great god Indian Tea. The operations in countries other than Great Britain during the last few years show what important developments in the Tea trade of this country are now taking place, and every exertion is necessary to maintain these successful results—for which the industry is so much indebted to the Syndicate.
Thibet.
This is a large, mountainous, and table land country on the northern side of the Himalayas. It is at a very high elevation, intensely cold, and very thinly populated. The Thibetans drink much Tea per head, but they use Brick Tea; this is made of the coarsest leaves compressed with some glutinous substance.
There is no difficulty in its manufacture. At present it is supplied by China, which is close by, but not nearer than India. Many think much of our coarse Tea (particularly from the Himalayan gardens) might find a market in Thibet, and I incline to the belief they are right. The quantity would not be very large, “but every little helps.”
Formerly much Tea was sold to the native tribes over the northern border by the gardens in Kumaon, Gurwal, and Kangra. Why I know not, but I hear the trade has fallen off to some extent; the Teas are taken to the Central Asian markets.
I have done with foreign markets, but there is yet another and a very large one regarding which nothing has yet been done: I allude to the market among the natives of India, in other words