WORK AXD PLAY IN THE TEA-LANDS OF JAVA 71 



and amusing capers ; the Rhowman speaks a few wordH, 

 pauses, be^jins to sny something else, and is inter- 

 rupted by a protest from the big tomtom. Looking 

 very serious, the spokesman continues talking, but his 

 merry tone of voice has suddenly changed to a dreary 

 monotone ; presently, he again pauses, and now the 

 audience, who have been smiling frequently during the 

 la^t few minutes, laugh heartily. lOvidently the show- 

 man knows how to make a good joke win its fair share 

 of appreciation ; and although we cannot imtlcrstand 

 his language, we laugh because the general merriment 

 is infect ioiK. We watch the showman manipulating 

 various other puppets, one by one, the while by facial 

 CJtpression and gestures he plays their part with them, 

 and with a voice over which he seems to have complete 

 mastery, recites all their speeches in dramatic style. 

 As we turn to make our way out through the crowd, 

 the story has reached a point at which the hero seems 

 to be on the villain's track : and at least half a dozen 

 native babies are amusing themselves by crawling 

 about the stage. 



cjiAi»'n:u XVI 



NUMEKOUS OTHER TEA-LANDS 



Amongst British com|)etitor8 in the world's tea in- 

 dustry, the third phwe of honour ha** been won by 

 Natal. And although at present the output of tea 

 by Natal is small in comparison with that of India 

 and Ceylon, it is equally true that this South African 

 colony has so far outstripp«'<l any other liritish com- 

 petitor that she is the only British rival in whose 



