284 [Assembly 



The leaves all hot as they come from the pans and baskets, are 

 spread on a bamboo table with a narrow rim upon its back to pre- 

 vent the baskets from slipping off when pushed against it. About 

 two pounds of hot leaves are divided into two or three parts, and 

 distributed to as many workmen who stand round the table with the 

 leaves before them. The leaves are collected by them With their 

 hands into a ball and propelled along the table, the right hand 

 gently pressing the ball down to give it consistency and to express 

 the juice from the leaves. The art consists in giving the ball a cir- 

 cular motion, and permitting it to turn round, in and under the hand, 

 two or three whole evolutions, before the arms are extended at full 

 length, and drawing the ball quickly back without leaving a leaf 

 behind. This operation is continued from five to ten minutes. .The 

 ball of Tea is occasionally opened out with the fingers, and raised 

 as high as the face, and let fall again, to separate the leaves.* 



The leaves now undergo a second operation of fireing in a man- 

 ner similar to the first; and then a second rolling; after which, they 

 are put into the drying baskets, and spread on a sieve which is in 

 the centre of the basket, and the whole placed over a charcoal fire. 

 This is carefully regulated, the charcoal judiciously selected, and the 

 fire fanned when lighted until it gets into a fine glare, and every 

 particle of smoke is expelled. When the leaves are put into the 

 drying basket, they are gently separated by lifting them up with 

 the hands and allowing them to drop. They are placed four or five 

 inches deep upon the sieve, having a passage in the centre, for the 

 heated air to pass through; this is the third and generally the last 

 process of fireing. The Tea is now assorted, prepared for sale, and 

 disposed of to the Tea merchants. 



The first gathering, you will remember, was of the Tea buds just 

 upon their opening into leaf. All that quality is gathered bud by 

 bud, rolled separately by the fingers, and forms that small round Tea, 

 called Gun Powder. The succeeding crops, go through a less ex- 

 act and elaborate manipulation. 



This tedious process of fireing is undoubtedly necessary in China, 

 when Teas are cured for exportation to Europe or the United States. 

 The length of the voyage, renders the entire exclusion of moisture, 

 and its consequent exposure to vegetable heat and incipient decom- 

 position, indispensable. But the same reason does not rule, in ref- 



• Dr. Ure's Dictionary of Arts and Manufactures. Chinese Repository, Vol. 8, 

 page 14. 



