MANUFACTURE. 51 



the covering of that interior ; and, lastly, the 

 best are reserved for the exterior or outer 

 covering, which recommends it to the " cus- 

 tomer." These various parts are respectively 

 called " fillers," " bunch- wrappers," and " out- 

 sides." 



Previously to this operation the whole mass is 

 copiously damped by means of a whisk with 

 water, about twenty-four hours beforehand ; for, 

 the leaves being dry and brittle, it would be 

 impossible to roll them into cigars without giving 

 them moisture, which tobacco imbibes freely, 

 even from the atmosphere, and soon becomes 

 elastic and workable. 



The leaves are then placed before the 

 " stripper : " he takes them up one by one, folds 

 them, strips off the stalk or mid-rib by a quick 

 and dexterous movement, throws the stalks on 

 his right hand, and lays the stripped leaves 

 smoothly on his left. He is on the left side of 

 the cigar-maker, to whom he hands up the leaves 

 as fast as they are wanted. The cigar-maker is 

 seated on a low stool in front of a low workbench, 

 which has raised ledges on three of its sides, 



E 2 



