CHAPTER XII 



FELLING 



WHEN a Government grant has been issued, or land 

 acquired by purchase, the first thing to be done is usually 

 to cut rentrices, or paths through the jungle, so as to form some 

 idea of the varying conditions of the estate. Till this has been 

 done the land remains hidden behind a veil of vegetation. 

 How exclusive such a veil of tropical vegetation can be only 

 those who have attempted to penetrate behind it can tell. 

 Once fairly into the jungle, all sense of locality seems lost; and 

 without blazing the trail as one proceeds one would soon be 

 hopelessly lost. Many well-known planters have had a scare 

 and come near to leaving their bones in the jungle. A native 

 guide is very useful at such times, as the native seems to possess 

 a sense of locality denied to the white man. A small compass 

 should always be carried. 



Some slight knowledge of the lie of the land having been 

 acquired, temporary shelter for the manager and for part of 

 the labour force becomes the first consideration. This having 

 been erected, the next thing to set about is the felling of the 

 jungle. 



For this felling one need not usually have to await the 

 arrival of contract labour. It is better, indeed, to have a 

 fair clearance made before contract labour begins to arrive. 

 The services of local natives are, therefore, usually secured. 

 Whether these are Cingalese in Ceylon, Malays or Chinese in 

 the Federated Malay States and Straits Settlements, or Battaks 

 in Sumatra, the conditions are similar. The local labour force, 

 while often not willing to engage in regular and long-continued 

 task work, is quite willing to take up a contract for felling 

 and burning the forest. Costs for felling and burning usually 

 work out at about G.8 per acre in Sumatra, and the amount 

 may be expressed in dollars to meet the costs in the Federated 



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