1839.] extent and produce of the Tea Plantations in Assam. 18$ 



there. The dust and smaller particles ar" blown agdnst this board, and 

 fall out at an opening at the bottom into a basket placed there to re- 

 ceive it. The next highest Tea is blown nearly to the end of the ma- 

 chine, and fulls down through a trough on the side into a basket; this 

 Tea is called Young Hyson. The next being a litie heavier, is not 

 blown quite so far; it falls through the same trough, which has a divi- 

 sion in the middle ; this of course is nearer the centre of the machine. 

 A basket is placed beneath to receive the Tea, which is called Hyson. 

 The next, which is still heavier, falls very near to the end of the fan, 

 this is called Gunpowder Tea; it is in small bulls. The heaviest Tea 

 falls still closer to the fan, and is called Big Gunpowder ; it is twice or 

 three times the size of Gunpowder Tea, and composed of several young 

 leaves that adhere firmly together. This sort is afterwards put into a 

 box and cut with a sharp iron instrument, then sifted and put among the 

 Gunpowder, which it now resembles. The different sorts of Tea are 

 now put into shallow bamboo baskets, and men, women, and children 

 are employed to pick out the sticks and bad leaves; this is a most tedi- 

 ous process, as the greatest care is taken not to leave the slightest par- 

 ticle of any thing but good Tea. But to assist and quicken this tiresome 

 process beautiful bamboo sieves, very little inferior to our wire ones, and 

 of various sizes, are employed. The different Teas are thrown into 

 sieves of different sizes, from large Gunpowder to Dust Tea; they are 

 shaken and tossed, and thrown from one person to another in quick suc- 

 cession, making the scene very animating ; in this way a great portion 

 of the stalks are got rid of. After the Tea has been well sifted and pick- 

 ed, it is again put into the hot pans and rubbed and rolled as before, for 

 about one hour ; it is then put into shallow bamboo baskets, and once 

 more examined, to separate the different Teas that may still remain in- 

 termixed, and again put into the hot pan. Now a mixture of sulphate 

 of lime and indigo, very finely pulverized and sifted through fine muslin, 

 in the proportion of three of the former fo one of the latter, is added; to 

 a pan of Tea containing about seven pound*, about half a tea-spoonful 

 of this mixture is put and rubbed and rolled along with the Tea in 

 the pan for about one hour, as b fore described. The Tea is then 

 taken hot from the pan and packed firmly in boxes, both hands and 

 feet being used to press it clown. The above mixture is not put to the 

 Tea to improve its flavour, but merely to give it a uniform colour and 

 appearance, as without it some of the Tea would be light, and some 

 dark. The indigo gives it the colour, and the sulphate of lime fixes 

 it. The Chinese call the former Youngtin, the latter Acco. Large 

 Gunpowder Tea they call Tychen ; little Gunpowder Cheocheu ; Hyson, 



