208 EXPOSURE TO THE AIR. [Cuap. XT. 
same time to twist the leaves. Two or three times 
during the operation the little bundles of rolled 
leaves are held up and shaken out upon the table, 
and are then again taken up and pressed and 
rolled as before. This part of the process also 
lasts about five minutes, during which time a 
large portion of green juice has been expressed, 
and may be seen finding its way down between the 
interstices of the bamboos. The leaves being now 
pressed, twisted, and curled, do not occupy a 
quarter of the space which they did before the 
operation. 
When the rolling process is Setanigd the leaves 
are removed from the table and shaken out for the 
last time, thinly, upon a large sort of screen, also 
made out of split pieces of bamboo, and are exposed 
to the action of the air. The best days for this 
purpose are those which are dry and cloudy, with 
very little sun. The object being to expel the 
moisture in the most gentle manner, and, at the 
same time, to allow the leaves to remain as soft 
and pliable as possible. When the sun is clear and 
powerful the moisture evaporates too rapidly, and 
the leaves are left crisp, coarse, and not in a proper 
state to undergo the remaining part of the process. 
There is no stated time for this exposure, as much 
depends upon the nature of the weather and the 
convenience of the work-people ; sometimes I have 
seen them go on with the remaining part of the 
operation without at all exposing the leaves to 
the air. 
