Bonsi tree

Just been given a bonsi tree to try and save, it looks dead to me. All the leaves have shrivelled up.
Don't know if there is any life in the root,does anyone know how to tell?
Also the friend has been covering it with water for 10 minutes just above soil level. She said that was the instructions she was given, seems strange to me.
Can anyone help or should i throw it out?
Rainy.

 

Try scratching a little of the bark away with your thumb nail...if its green underneath there is hope...if it looks dead then try further down and if there is no green near the bottom of the trunk and the branches are brittle...I would say its a gonner

Steve

 

No green anywhere just brown, guess it's a gonner
thanks for the advice anyway......
Rainy