31 



The bundles are bronglit to the fermenting shed in baskets. Xo care 

 is taken to separate the leaves into lengths, except that in a general 

 wa}' there should not be too great a difference between the length of 

 the leaves in the same bundle. The baskets for carrying the bundles 

 are about 4 feet in diameter and about 2 feet high. They are lined 

 with matting and have strong handles. They will hold about 225 or 

 250 bundles. Care must be taken in packing the baskets not to pack 

 the bundles in too tightly, and they should not come above the edge of 

 the basket. They are then covered with matting and sent on an ox 

 cart to the fermenting shed, each cart carrying two baskets. The bas- 

 kets are numbered and the weight of each is put on the outside in plain 

 letters. 



The contract with the coolie ends, as already stated, with the delivery 

 of the tobacco at the drying shed: all the work which he does after 

 that he is paid for separately. In some plantations the stripping and 

 bundling is done by the coolies, and in many of them by the Javanese 

 women and children. The payment for stripping and bundling is 1 

 doewit per bundle. A doewit is one thousandth part of a Mexican 

 dollar. The actual doewit piece is no longer in use. but it remains a 

 basis for calculations. The 10-cent piece is in use. representing 100 

 doe wits. TVith the Mexican dollars worth SO cents, as it was when I 

 was living in Sumatra, the payment for 100 bundles would be about 8 

 cents. American money. 



FEE3IENTIXG. 



Very much of the value of the Sumatra tobacco is dependent upon 

 the infinite care that is taken throughout the whole period of its 

 production. The minute care and incessant vigilance of the Chinese 

 coolie, acting under the supervision of the manager and the assistants 

 who represent the companies, can hardly be conceived by an American. 

 Xowhere. however, is this care and thorough consideration of details 

 shown more clearly than in the fermenting and sorting and grading. 



The tobacco comes direct from the drjing sheds to the one ferment- 

 ing shed, which holds all the tobacco of the estate. It does not leave 

 here until packed and ready for shipment to the European markets. 



The fermentation has two purposes. The first is to insure the proper 

 texture, glossy appearance, and color to the leaf. It brings out the 

 characteristic properties of a wrapper leaf, which are hardly apparent 

 when the leaf is cut in the field. It is furthermore necessary to press 

 the tobacco into bales so that it can be shipped in comi^act form. 



Formerly, when dark colors for cigar wrappers were in much favor 

 by the dealers and manufacturers, the tobacco was worked up to a 

 very high heat in the fermenting pile : but since lighter colors are 

 more sought for the fermentation has to be done more slowly and not 

 to such a high degree of heat as formerly. 



