58 The Cultivation and Preparation of Coffee 



cherries.* The perforation should not be a 

 plain, round one, because I have come across 

 natives perforating their own cards. 



The receiving tank being as a rule 

 of large dimensions, it is usually covered 

 at the top to prevent accidents, and when 

 covering same the cross beams, or material 

 with which it is covered, should be strong 

 enough to allow persons to walk on it. 

 It is usually on the top of the tank that 

 the coffee is received. Several measures, 

 usually made of wood, representing quarter, 

 half, and one " caja "t are permanently erected 

 on the tank, and the labourers, when the fixed 

 time has come for the receiving of the ripe 

 cherries, each fills in rotation as many " cajas " 

 as he is able to, and presents his card or book 

 to get credited with the amount of his day's 

 labour. The bottom of each " caja " is opened 

 automatically by means of a lever, and the 

 foreman is the only person authorised to work 

 them. This is the quickest method I have seen 

 of dealing with the receiving of the coffee. 



* Metal counters are in some cases used, but as Central American 

 natives have a mania for burying their money, and as they consider the 

 metal counters as cash, the counters disappear in time to the benefit 

 of the planter, but he often finds himself inconvenienced by the shortness 

 of counters ; that is why the cards referred to are preferable. 



t The," caja " is a wooden measure 28 inches long by 12 inches wide 

 by 13 inches deep. 



