Extent and Produce of the Tea-Plantations in Assam. 151 



stands. The pan is heated by a wood-fire ; an iron ladle with 

 a handle, about six or eight inches long, answers the purpose 

 of taking the lead out of the pan when required. The pan 

 may hold about twenty pounds. There is also another ladle 

 with a long handle, and holes at the bottom, to take the dross 

 off. When lead for the sides of the boxes is required, the 

 proportion of one maund of lead to five seers of tin is put 

 into the pan. When. well melted and freed from dross, the 

 two tiles above mentioned are placed on the two pieces of 

 wood, one piece being nearly under the centre, and the other 

 at the edge of the lower tile ; the upper tile is placed on the 

 lower tile even and square, projecting perhaps a little back- 

 wards towards the operator. The tiles being thus placed 

 near the melted lead, the Chinaman squats down on them, 

 r placing his heels near the edge, with his toes towards the 



' centre ; while with his left hand he lays hold of the corner 



tile, and with the right ht>lds the short ladle, which he dips 

 intQ the boiler, and takes out about half a ladleful of the mol- 

 ten lead, tipping up the upper tile with the left hand about 

 three inches, at the same time assisting this operation by press- 

 ing on his heels and gently lifting his toes. The upi>er tile 

 being thus raised, he dashes in the contents of the ladle be- 

 tween both, lets go with the left hand, and presses on with 

 his toes, which brings the upper tile with some force to its for- 

 mer position over the lower one, and occasions the superfluous 

 lead to gush out right and left and in front. The upper tile 

 is then raised like the lid of a box, while the lower one rests 

 on the piece of projecting wood underneath, and a fine thin 

 sheet of lead, nearly the size of the tiles, is taken out, and 

 thrown on one side ; the upper tile is then gently lowered 

 down, another ladle of hot lead dashed in, and so on in quick 

 succession, about four sheets of lead being made in one minute. 

 The lower tile projecting a little beyond the upper one, assists 

 the man to lay the ladle on, and pour in the metal firmly and 

 quickly. To vary the operation, the man .sometimes stands 

 up and places one foot on the upper tile, working with his 

 heel and toes, the same as if both feet were on, and just as 

 quickly. Many interruptions take place, such jis examining 

 the papers on the tiles, rubbing them with chalk, turning them 



