BUILDINGS. 29 



estate, and the point of transport of coffee, either by 

 bullocks or carts from the store, should also be taken 

 into consideration. 



It is, of course, understood that a small stream of 

 water is absolutely necessary at the pulping-house, 

 to pulp and wash the coffee, and should large works or 

 water-wheels be contemplated, the position will be 

 mainly determined by its capabilities in this respect ; 

 desirable, however, as it is to secure the assistance of 

 water for the machinery, it is not often that this can 

 be attained without sacrificing equally important 

 advantages, and instances are not unfrequent of the 

 works being placed in inaccessible situations, simply 

 to secure water privileges, although the assistance so 

 derived was more than counterbalanced by the expense 

 and inconvenience of extra carriage of the crop both 

 before and after pulping. 



The coolie lines will generally be placed as near 

 the scene of their operations as possible, due regard 

 at the same time being had to the health of the people, 

 and access to water for their requirements. 



The coffee-berry when gathered from the tree is 

 the colour and shape of a ripe damson, for although it 

 may be considered ripe when red, it will benefit by 

 remaining on the tree until it has passed into damson 

 colour. If the berry is squeezed, two coffee-beans are 

 found, covered with a thin skin exactly resembling 

 parchment, between which and the outer rind there is 

 a very sweet mucilaginous fluid, already alluded to. 



The operation called pulping is removing this outer 

 cherry rind and washing off the mucilage, leaving the 

 bean in the parchment skin, in which it is dried and 



