THE LITTLE TEA BOOK 



to take one. The cups being with- 

 out handles, and not easy to hold, 

 the visitor must therefore be careful 

 lest he let one slip through his un- 

 tutored fingers. 



The tea-pot is drenched with hot 

 water before the tea is put in ; then 

 more hot water is poured over the 

 leaves, and soon poured off into the 

 cups. This is repeated several times, 

 but the hot water is never allowed to 

 stand on the grounds over a minute. 



The Japanese all adhere to the 

 general household custom of the 

 country in keeping the necessary tea 

 apparatus in readiness. In the liv- 

 ing-room of every house is contained 

 a brazier with live coals, a kettle to 

 boil water, a tray with tea-pot, cups, 

 and a tea-caddy. 



Their neighbors, the Chinese, are 



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