270 PREPARATION OF THE TOBACCO, 
bales, of from first to eighth quality, leaving the most 
inferior qualities, which amount to about one thousand bales, 
for exportation, the factory not using such common grades. 
It is a custom of the manufacturers to keep a supply of the 
best qualities always on hand from year to year, in order 
that, should the tobacco crop, in any one year, be bad, the 
reputation of the house can be maintained by using the good 
tobacco in the store. The factory is a large stone building, 
opposite the Canipo de Moste, in which all the operations 
connected with cigar making are carried on (excepting the 
manufacture of boxes) by over five hundred operatives, all 
males. The following is the process of manufacture: 
“ Arrived at the factory, the tobacco bales, carefully packed 
and wrapped in palm leaves, are kept in a cool, dark, place 
on the first floor, being divided off into classes according to 
quality and value, which latter varies from twenty to four 
hundred dollars per bale of two hundred pounds. When 
wanted, the bales are opened, the manojas and gabillos are 
separated, and the latter carried in their dry state to the 
moistening room. Here are a number of men whose busi- 
ness it is to place the leaves, for the purpose of moistening 
and softening them, into large barrels in which is a solution 
of saltpetre in water; this done, the water is poured off, and 
other workmen spread out the leaves with their hands upon 
the edges of the barrels, ridding them as much as possible, 
of any surplus water; after which, the leaves, from being 
moistened, unfold very easily, and, with care, without tear- 
ing. The stem is then taken out, the process being known 
as disbalillar. These stems, with the refuse of other tobacco, 
are sometime used as filling for the commonest kind of cigars. 
The filling is known as érzpa, the very best being selected, 
like the leaf, for the best cigars. Now comes the maker, 
and supplying himself with a handful of leaf (copa) for 
wrappers, and a lot of the ¢ripa for filling or really making 
the body of the cigar itself he carries it to a little table, and 
spreading the wrapper upon the table, cuts with a short 
knife the different portions of the leaf, This is a very nice 
operation, requiring skill, knowledge, and experience ; for it 
is in this operation that the different qualities of tobacco are 
separated, the outside of the leaf being generally the best; 
next that, another quality; and that portion adjoining the 
stem the worst. 
“The general sorting of the tobacco is done by hands of 
great experience and judgment, who are the highest in 
