518 Report on the manufacture of Tea, and on the [June, 



about half a ladleful of the molten metal, tipping up the upper tile 

 with the left hand about three inches, at the same time assisting this 

 operation by pressing on his heels and gently lifting his toes. The upper 

 tile being thus raised he dashes in the contents of the ladle between 

 both, lets go with the left hand, and presses on with his toes, which 

 brings the upper tile with some force to its former position over the 

 lower one, and occasions the superfluous lead to gush out right and left 

 and in front. The upper tile is then raised like the lid of a box, while 

 the lower one rests on the piece of projecting wood underneath, and a 

 fine thin sheet of lead, nearly the size of the tiles, is taken out, and thrown 

 on one side ; the upper tile is then gently lowered down, another ladle 

 of hot lead dashed in, and so on in quick succession, about four sheets 

 of lead being made in one minute. The lower tile projecting a little 

 beyond the upper one assists the man to lay the ladle on, and pour in 

 the metal firmly and quickly. To vary the operation, the man some- 

 times stands up and places one foot on the upper tile, working with his 

 heel and toes, the same as if both feet were on, and just as quickly. 

 Many interruptions take place, such as examining the papers on the 

 tiles, rubbing them with chalk, turning them round, and reversing them. 

 Sometimes half a split bamboo is placed in front and under the tiles, 

 with a piece of paper on it, to receive the lead that falls down, so that 

 it may not come in contact with the ground. This lead is every now 

 and then taken up and put back into the boiler. A maund of lead may 

 make about twelve or thirteen boxes, which will hold forty pounds. 

 There are also two other tiles, about a cubit square ; these are used for 

 making the tops of the canisters, which are generally of tin only, but can 

 also be made from the above mixture. It is necessary in making this 

 sheet-lead, to hold the sheets up and examine them ; for if not properly 

 prepared, there are sometimes a number of very fine holes in them, 

 which are not perceptible when lying on the ground or table. On this 

 account the first twenty sheets of lead are thrown aside and rejected, 

 even without any examination. When the tiles have become nice and 

 warm, it is then the fine and even sheets, without holes, are obtained. 

 Before a sheet-lead canister can be made, it is necessary to have a 

 model box made to fit into the wooden box, that is to hold the sheet-lead 

 canister ; on this box or shell the sheet-lead canister is made. It has 

 a hole at the bottom to prevent any suction in putting it in, or draw- 

 ing it out of the box or canister ; and instead of a top it has a bar of wood 

 across, by which it is drawn out. For soldering, tin, with the eighth or 

 twelfth part of quicksilver, and some rosin are used. The wood part of 

 some of the boxes is covered with paper pasted on and dried in the sun. 

 To give the paper on the boxes a yellow colour, a mixture of paste with 



