146 THE CHINESE SUGAR CANE. 
The still house is generally of two stories, each pretty 
high; the second story consisting of a floor extending 
up to the place where the still is set. Here it is cut 
away, and the space is left clear from the ground to the 
roof; this is to allow of the various appurtenances of the 
still being elevated to the proper height, free from ob- 
struction from joists or other interferences. 
In extensive distilleries, however, such as that of the 
Messrs. Belchers, in Matanzas, Cuba, the still house is of 
several stories, and special arrangements are made to suit 
circumstances. Here as many as thirty or forty large 
fermenting tuns are employed, each capable of contain- 
ing from two to three thousand gallons, so arranged that 
no more of the mosta, or wash, shall mature each day 
than is capable of being distilled within twenty-four hours. 
Underneath the ground floor of the still house a mixing 
tub ought to be placed, and grated over with a wooden 
grating level with the floor, so that a molasses puncheon 
may be rolled over it, the bung taken out, and its contents 
let down through the bars, to save labor. This tub or 
vat ought to contain a charge for one or more of the 
fermenting vats employed. The mixture of the ingre- 
dients for fermentation is made in it by agitating them 
together by means of wooden rakes or oars. When 
completed, the wash is pumped up into the fermenting 
tubs, tuns, vats, or backs, as they are called irrespectively 
according to local usage, where it undergoes the vinous 
or alcoholic fermentation, and in turn is distilled into 
rum or low wines. As many as twenty pipes of rum, of 
one hundred and twenty gallons each, are made on some 
large estates each day during crop. 
