CiiAP. X. MANUFACTURE OF "CAPER; 



209 



water used on this occasion stood in a large basin 

 adjoining the drying-pans, and had a yellow, 

 dirty appearance, which I was rather at a loss 

 to account for. At first sight I thought it was 

 mixed with some ingredient which was intended 

 to give a peculiar tint or colour to the tea ; but 

 on inquiry it turned out that my conjecture was 

 wrong. Our guide, on being appealed to for 

 information on the subject, coolly informed us that 

 " there was nothing in the water, it was quite 

 clean, but that the workmen were in the habit of 

 washing their hands in it ! " 



As soon as the leaves had become softened 

 by the moisture and heat in the pan, they were 

 taken out and put into a strong canvas bag, and 

 twisted firmly into a round form, resembling a 

 football. This bag was then thrown down on the 

 floor, which had been covered with a mat, and a 

 man jumped upon it with both feet, supporting 

 himself at the same time by laying hold of a 

 bamboo pole, which had been erected in a hori- 

 zontal position for the purpose. The heel, sole, 

 and toes of his feet were now kept in perpetual 

 motion in turning and twisting the ball, while the 

 weight of his body compressed it gradually into a 

 smaller size. As the bulk of the ball is thus 

 reduced by pressure, the canvas slackens, and it 

 is necessary for the workman from time to time 

 to jump off it and tighten its mouth by giving it 

 an extra twist with his hands. The balls by tliis 

 process of rolling and twisting become at last 



