304 CULTURE, MANUFACTURE, ETC., OP TOBACCO. 



26,000 during the three previous years. The tobacco 

 pays no duty while in these warehouses. It is "in 

 bond" as it is technically termed; the officers giving 

 a receipt for it, cancelled when the duty is paid and 

 the salesman removes it. This bonded tobacco used 

 to cost the country 40,000?. per annum in warehouse- 

 room, for which a nominal rent only was charged ; but 

 in 1857 this was altered, by which a sum of about 

 27,000Z. was saved to the revenue. Should any portion 

 of the tobacco be injured by bad packing or sea-water 

 getting to it, the mass is turned out of the hogshead, 

 and the damaged parts chopped away with huge blades 

 like scythes, but straight, affixed to strong handles. 

 They are wielded by both hands, and require a vigo- 

 rous arm to use, such is the density of the mass. 

 The damaged part is burnt, and remainder weighed, 

 the proper amount of duty charged only on it. A 

 large kiln is prepared at the docks for the burning of 

 this tobacco ; its external appearance is that of a tall 

 cylindrical shaft, which is jocularly termed " Her 

 Majesty's tobacco-pipe." 



Arrived at the manufacturer's, the tobacco-hogshead 

 is broken open, and by wedge and lever the solid mass 

 is split into a series of flat circular cakes, over which 

 water is sprinkled, to induce them to swell or separate, 

 that the bunches or " hands " may again assume some- 

 thing of their original form. These masses were for- 

 merly weighed in the presence of a government officer 

 of the excise, and the amount required for present use 

 left in the manufactory ; the rest was locked in a 



