142 INFERIOR METHODS. 



of giving too ready credence to assertions that the 

 art is easily taught. Simple as it may be, like 

 other arts, it requires an apprenticeship. 



There are also many inferior methods which are 

 adopted with coarse teas. The best of these is, by 

 continuing the final process of drying in the roasting 

 pan, as in the final drying of green tea, in lieu of the 

 drying-tube employed for black. It is remarkable 

 that all the Chinese factors, whom I have ques- 

 tioned upon this subject, have invariably denied the 

 existence of this method. It nevertheless unques- 

 tionably exists ; and I shall now describe the 

 manner in which I have seen this process performed 

 by a man from the Bohea country. 



The vessel and other circumstances were the same 

 as in the final process of roasting black tea, the 

 heat of the fire being reduced. The leaves were 

 then sprinkled round the sides and less heated 

 parts of the vessel, occasionally collected together, 

 and then stirred about with the hands. This was 

 repeated until the leaves became well twisted, and 

 the colour black ; the fire being still further dimi- 

 nished as the leaves dried. They were then win- 

 nowed and packed as before. * 



Some Congou teas are rolled indifferently with the 

 hands or bare feet after roasting ; and are then, it 

 is said, dried in the sun, without any further ex- 

 posure to the fire. This, however, is only done 

 with the second and third gatherings of inferior 

 shrubs. But some teas are said to be wholly dried in 



