British Pathe

The Story of India Tea.

"In the heart of Assam the story begins, amidst the thick jungle growth. To clear it is the planter first job."

Shots of workers clearing jungle, weeds, undergrowth etc. Shots of worker sitting on elephant which lifts up undergrowth with its trunk. Shots of...

The Story of India Tea.

"In the heart of Assam the story begins, amidst the thick jungle growth. To clear it is the planter first job."

Shots of workers clearing jungle, weeds, undergrowth etc. Shots of worker sitting on elephant which lifts up undergrowth with its trunk. Shots of workers clearing the ground for planting. M/Ss of worker testing seeds in tubs of water

"Now the planting. A hole is dug and partially filled with pulverised earth. The seed is then put in and covered with more earth."

Shots of women planting seeds. Shots of the planting area being fenced in. M/S of workers laying ferns over the planting area to protect the seeds from the sun. :a year later the seeds are taken from the nursery and transplanted. Several shots of the workers transplanting in planting area. They use long poles and thump them into the ground to aid their task. M/S of worker using tool to stop the soil from 'caking' around a plant. Shots of workers pruning the bushes when they reach maturity. "Later, heavy pruning is done - in the case of old tea bushes heavy pruning is necessary."

L/Ss of the younger bushes being 'tipped'. M/Ss of 'happy group' of female workers. Family group shot. "After five years the plants are ready for plucking." Shots of tea being plucked. Various shots of female tea pickers at work in the field. M/Ss of workers. More shots of women working in the fields and carrying tea baskets. "The green leaf is now weighed (the workers are paid by how much they have picked). Shots of the workers lined up in queue waiting to have their baskets weighed. "Now into the bullock carts." M/Ss if baskets being loaded into the carts. M/Ss of the bullock carts moving along roads to the factory.

"For about sixteen hours the tea is 'withered.' This is done naturally, and no artificial means are used." M/Ss of workmen performing the withering process. M/Ss of workman emptying tea basket into large rolling machine. Shots of the tea in the machine "Roll breakers separate the fine from the coarse leaf. Shots of the rolling machines in action. M/S of man running tea leaves through his fingers. Shots of tea being emptied into large drying machines. A workman opens door on side of machine so that we can see the tea moving along on conveyor belts inside.

M/Ss of workers packing the tea into tea chests and carrying them away. M/Ss of workers nailing down the top of the tea chests. "That then is the story of India Tea. But we cannot leave the plantation without visiting the workers quarters The best day of all - pay day."

L/S of queue of people waiting to paid. A British colonial looking man sits at table. A woman carrying her child approaches, the mans throws a small bundle at her (presumably her money) and she walks away. Several shots of families standing around outside their quarters (they are small huts). Chickens walk around in the background. Group shots of women posing for the camera, smiling etc. Also, group shots of male workers.

"It's along step from Assam to our next scene - but the step is always worth taking when it brings 'the cup that cheers'."

M/S of mother serving tea for small girl. C/U of woman holding tea caddy which reads 'India Tea'. Shots of the woman serving the tea. M/Ss and C/U of the exited looking little girl watching. M/S of the woman, presumably the mother sitting round table with two children. She passes cup of tea to the children. M/Ss of the children drinking. C/U of little girl looking up and smiling after having her first slurp.