150 MANIPULATION BY 



pound. This want of success in my presence he 

 ascribed to the unfitness of the Honan leaves for 

 the preparation of tea. 



2. The leaves of the second parcel, after expo- 

 sure to sun, were roasted once in the usual manner, 

 at my suggestion, and the process completed as 

 above described by rolling and exposure to the sun. 

 This tea was less mixed with red leaves, and better 

 suited to the taste of Europeans ; and I thought 

 more likely to keep than the former parcel. 



3. The leaves of the third parcel having been 

 exposed to the sun were by my desire, roasted 

 twice, and the desiccation completed by the pro- 

 cess of poey. But these leaves were of a paler 

 colour ; much mixed with green and yellow leaves, 

 and wholly without fragrance. The infusion also 

 was as light as green tea, and almost tasteless. 

 This inferiority of quality the workman ascribed to 

 the leaves having undergone the process of chao 

 twice instead of once. 



4. On a subsequent occasion, I saw the same 

 man, after having placed the leaves in the sun for 

 half an hour, roll and sun-dry them twice as al- 

 ready described, forming them into a ball, &c. 

 When completely dried in the sun, a kuo was slightly 

 heated, more to warm than to roast the tea. It must 

 here be remembered that the leaves were deprived 

 of much of their moisture, and consequently the 

 roasting now corresponded with the final process 

 of drying in the drying-tube, when a very moderate 



