6 TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES.

appointed ; and year after year an executive body called the
Thirty Committee, clected by the Planters’ Association of
Ceylon and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, has expended
$50,000 per annum in advertising and demonstrating in
North America, besides carrying on a propaganda in other
countries. When the Spanish war tax of 10 cents (5d.) was
placed upon tea imported into the United States, while coffee
continued a free import and also fell in price, so severe a
blow was dealt to the prospects of tea consumption in the
United States that Ceylon would possibly have decided not
to participate at St. Louis if its removal—it was the last of the

TEA FACTORY : COOLIES CARRYING TEA CHESTS,

customs war duties to disappear—had not been decided upon.
Indeed, had not Canada at that time become a keen customer,
the entire campaign in North America might have been
abandoned four years ago. The money for the exploitation of
Ceylon's staple export was provided for the first few years
from a voluntary tea fund, but since 18Y2 from a cess collected
at the Customs on all teas exported. This cess began at 10
rupee-cents for every 100 lb., and was twice increased, until
30 cents per 1001b. was reached, This has enabled theexecutive
 body to encourage the new industry of green tea, which
during the past three years has made notable progress. A