228 SEPARATION AND CLASSIFICATION 



into England. In fact, it had somewhat the ap- 

 pearance of being artificially coloured, or, what is 

 technically termed, glazed. It, nevertheless, pro- 

 duced none that could with propriety be termed 

 yellow leaves. 



Having now described what I have seen myself, 

 I shall proceed to relate what I understand to be 

 the practice adopted in the Hyson districts for the 

 separation and classification of the different kinds 

 of Hyson tea. I have twice seen a chest of Mao 

 Cha sifted at Canton, but I found it difficult to 

 note down the process, on account of the confusion 

 which was created by all the different parts being 

 carried on at the same time, and from the number 

 of hands employed. Eight or nine persons were 

 all at work at the same time ; some sifting, some 

 roasting the leaves, others fanning off the skin 

 with a tray, some winnowing with a machine, and 

 others picking out the skin leaves ; and, though I 

 stopped the men occasionally, and took samples 

 through every stage of the process, as well as noted 

 down every particular at the time, yet I will not 

 be answerable that no mistake was made. The ac- 

 counts, as they were taken, will be found in the Ap- 

 pendix. In this examination I was aided by my 

 friend and colleague, Mr. John Reeves, whose state- 

 ment I have adopted as being more minute, and, I 

 believe, more accurate than my own. My present 

 observations will, therefore, be the result of general 

 inquiry, and what I have been enabled to collect at 



