Shingle- Making. 171 



however, are to be compared as thatching material 

 with the magnificent lemon, ("mana") and spear- 

 grasses, which cover the hills of Ceylon and the 

 Western Coast, growing to a height of from six to 

 eight feet ; they would, consequently, only be used 

 as a substitute when the latter are not obtainable. 



Shingles have much to recommend them for 

 roofing. These are strips of wood split in proper 

 dimensions, and nailed side by side, in the same 

 way as slates on a house in England. If made 

 from suitable timber they yield a neat, durable, and 

 efficient covering ; and, indeed, almost any hard, 

 straight-grained wood will answer the purpose. 

 They are made in the following manner. A straight- 

 stemmed tree having been selected in the forest, not 

 more than 15 or 18 inches in diameter, it is cut 

 down and sawn into lengths of 22 inches, or 20 

 inches, as may be preferred. These lengths are 

 now split into sections, so as to admit of these 

 being again partitioned, according to the judgment 

 of the workman, into the greatest number of thin 

 boards of not less than 3 to 4 inches in width. Two 

 men will be kept employed in felling the trees, and 

 sawing them into the proper lengths, two in split- 

 ting up the blocks into shingles, and two more in 

 dressing or finishing them. 



For the splitting operation an implement is pro- 

 vided, in shape and character not unlike an enor- 



