Cuar. XI.] PROCESS OF DRYING BLACK TEA. 915 
flat bamboo sieves, and, providing the day is not 
too bright, are exposed in the open air to dry off 
any superfluous moisture. When this moisture has 
evaporated, convenient portions of the leaves are 
brought in and thrown into a round flat iron pan, 
such as the Chinese use for boiling their rice, and 
are exposed to the heat of a gentle fire which is 
lighted below them. As soon as this heat reaches 
them, they give out a large quantity of moisture 
with a crackling noise, and they soon become soft 
and pliant. The person who attends to them stirs 
them about with his hands, and in about five mi- 
nutes takes them out and puts in a fresh supply. 
The heated leaves are emptied out on a large round 
and flat bamboo sieve, which is placed upon a 
table at a convenient height from the ground, and 
the process of rolling commences. Three or four 
persons take a portion of the heated leaves and 
begin to squeeze and roll them in the manner 
which I have already described. This goes on for 
a minute or two, when each person takes his por- 
tion and examines the effects which have already 
been produced ; it is then shaken well out upon 
the table, after which it is gathered up and the 
operation of rolling and squeezing goes on as be- 
fore. This is repeated three or four times, and 
then the whole is shaken well out, on another large 
flat bamboo sieve, in such a manner as to spread it 
thinly upon it. 
Up to this stage of the process all the leaves 
have been subjected to the same treatment. But the 
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