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this shed is shown in fig. 2. It is usually about 240 feet long by 60 

 feet wide, not counting the two porticos at the doors on either side. 

 It is 36 feet high and slopes gradually on either side to 10 feet in 

 height. The whole length on both sides is filled with glass windows, 

 so as to give plenty of light. There is a platform in the middle about 

 180 feet long and 30 feet wide. This is for the piles of tobacco in the 

 fermentation. The platform stands on pillars 3 feet high, for the double 

 purpose of having it freed from the moisture of the ground and to afford 

 a good view over the whole fermentation shed. The platform is 

 divided in the middle so that the coolies do not have to walk all around 

 it in delivering the sorted tobacco. Some of these fermentation sheds 

 are quite expensive, being made of brick and covered with attap, a sort 

 of thatch, which will be described later. 



On either side of the platform there is a space of about 15 feet which 

 is kept free for the coolies who are sorting the tobacco according to 

 the grades. While engaged in this sorting they sit on matting spread 

 on the floor and have the benefit of the full light falling from the out- 

 side through the glass windows. The shed is usually built from east to 

 west, so that the rays of the sun from December to February, the 

 period when the sorting is usually done in Deli, will not fall on the side 

 where the coolies are sorting. 



There is an extension, marked ''receiving place" on the plan, usually 

 about 30 feet square and so constructed that plenty of light comes in 

 over the top. This is where the tobacco is received from the drying 

 sheds. There is a ditch 3^ to 4 feet wide and 2 feet deep around the 

 shed to insure perfect drainage. 



CHINESE COOLIES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



The Chinese coolie is an absolute necessity for the planter in Deli. 

 It is doubtful if a laborer could be found that would serve all the pur- 

 X)oses as well, taking into consideration the climatic conditions. He is 

 admirably adapted to the work and understands what is expected of 

 him. Europeans could not possibly stand what the Chinaman stands 

 with imiounity. The coolie is usually imported direct from China and 

 at a very great expense, so that usually a number of planters club 

 together and send one or two men to China to engage and bring over 

 the coolies for them all. These coolies are called "singkehs," equiva- 

 lent to our word "greenhorns." They know nothing about the cultiva- 

 tion of tobacco, and have to learn it from the Chinamen who have 

 already been in Deli for a year or more. 



The Chinaman does not plant and cultivate the tobacco on regular 

 wages, but at so much per l,00(f plants grown. Later in the season, how- 

 ever, he does piecework in the fermenting shed. Each receives in the first 

 place a few dollars down, usually $4, uj^on signing the contract. Then 

 there is an advance of from $4 to $8 each, according to his appearance. 

 This is advanced before anything is done by the coolie, in order to give 



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