1 839.] extent and produce of the Tea Plantations in Assam. 189 



The lower tile rests on two pieces of wood, about four inches in 

 thickness, and the exact length of the tile. The room where the sheets 

 of lead are made must be very smooth and level, as the tiles are apt to 

 break when there is any unequal pressure on them. In the corner of 

 the room there is a sunken brick fire-place, the upper part of which 

 rises just a little above the floor ; into this fire-place is inserted one of 

 the cast iron pans used for making Tea, and in one corner of the masonry 

 is a vent hole on which in general a Tea-kettle stands. The pan is heat- 

 ed by a wood fire ; an iron ladle with a handle, about six or eight inches 

 long, answers the purpose of taking the lead out of the pan when re- 

 quired. The pan may hold about twenty pounds. There is also ano- 

 ther ladle with a long handle, and holes at the bottom, to take the dross 

 off. When lead for the sides of the boxes is required, the proportion of 

 one mound of lead to five seers of tin is put into the pan. When well 

 melted and freed from dross, the two tiles above mentioned are placed 

 on the two pieces of wood, one piece being nearly under the centre, 

 and the other at the edge of the lower tile ; the upper tile is placed on 

 the lower tile even and square, projecting perhaps a little backward to- 

 wards the operator. The tiles being thus placed near the melted lead, 

 the Chinaman squats down on them, placing his heels near the edge, 

 with his toes towards the centre; while with his left hand he lays hold 

 of the corner tile, and with the right holds the short ladle, which he 

 dips into the boiler, and takes out about half a ladleful of the molten 

 metal, tipping up the upper tile with the left hand about three inches, 

 at the same time assisting this operation by pressing on his heels and 

 gently lifting his toes. The upper tile being thus raised he dashes in 

 the contents of the ladle between both, lets go with the left hand, and 

 presses on with his toes, which brings the upper tile with some force 

 to its former position over the lower one, and occasions the superfluous 

 lead to gush out right and left and in front. The upper tile is then 

 raised like the lid of a box, while the lower one rests on the piece of 

 projecting wood underneath, and a fine thin sheet of lead, nearly the 

 size of the tiles, is taken out, and thrown on one side ; the upper tile is 

 then gently lowered down, another ladle of hot lead dashed in, and so 

 on in quick succession, about four sheets of lead being made in one 

 minule. The lower tile projecting a little beyond the upper one assists 

 the man to lay the ladle on, and pour in the metal firmly and quickly. 

 To vary the operation, the man sometimes stands up and places one foot 

 on the upper tile, working with his heel and toes, the same as if both 

 feet were on, and just as quickly. Many interruptions take place, such 



