to eighth quality, leaving
the most inferior qualities, which amount to about one
thousand bales, for exportation, the factory not using such
common grades. It is a custom of the manufacturers to keep a
supply of the best qualities always on hand from year to
year, in order that, should the tobacco crop, in any one
year, be bad, the reputation of the house can be maintained
by using the good tobacco in the store. The factory is a
large stone building, opposite the Canipo de Moste, in which
all the operations connected with cigar making are carried
on (excepting the manufacture of boxes) by over five hundred
operatives, all males. The following is the process of
manufacture:

"Arrived at the factory, the tobacco bales, carefully packed
and wrapped in palm leaves, are kept in a cool, dark, place
on the first floor, being divided off into classes according
to quality and value, which latter varies from twenty to
four hundred dollars per bale of two hundred pounds. When
wanted, the bales are opened, the _manojas_ and _gabillos_
are separated, and the latter carried in their dry state to
the moistening room. Here are a number of men whose business
it is to place the leaves, for the purpose of moistening and
softening them, into large barrels in which is a solution of
saltpetre in water; this done, the water is poured off, and
other workmen spread out the leaves with their hands upon
the edges of the barrels, ridding them as much as possible,
of any surplus water; after which, the leaves, from being
moistened, unfold very easily, and, with care, without
tearing. The stem is then taken out, the process being known
as _disbalillar_. These stems, with the refuse of other
tobacco, are sometime used as filling for the commonest kind
of cigars. The filling is known as _tripa_, the very best
being selected, like the leaf, for the best cigars. Now
comes the maker, and supplying himself with a handful of
leaf (_copa_) for wrappers, and a lot of the _tripa_ for
filling or really making the body of the cigar itself he
carries it to a little table, and spreading the wrapper upon
the table, cuts with a short knife the different portions of
the leaf. This is a very nice operation, requiring skill,
knowledge, and experience; for it is in this op