CH. V 



PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS 163 



If the rectangular system is selected the rope stretched 

 from G to F would have knots of one colour, say red, 

 showing the distances between the pegs in the lines, 

 while the rope from G to H would have knots of 

 another colour, say yellow, to show the distances 

 between the lines, or vice versa. Two men are required 

 as guides on the wings of the work, one standing at G, 

 while the other stands at the other end of the offset, or 

 as far away as is convenient for the work (at j in the 

 figure). The latter holds a bundle of lining-pegs, and 

 a staff of the same length as the distance which the 

 pegs must have between them on the line. Between 

 the two men stand a number of boys, each with a 

 bundle of pegs. If they are inexperienced, or if the 

 distances between the lines are great, one boy will be 

 required at each line (viz. at a, b, r c, d, etc.) ; but if 

 the distances between the lines are not great, one boy 

 will be sufficient for several lines after he has had some 

 practice. When all are in position along the line GH, 

 the man at G steps to peg No. 1 along the base line 

 GF, while the man at j measures off the distance jj l 

 at right angles to GH with his staff, puts in his peg, 

 and stands at j \ The two men now guide the boys 

 and keep them in a line and at proper distances from 

 each other. When this is done the boys put in their 

 pegs, and the two men step to pegs No. 2 on line GF 

 and toj 2 in the same line &sj smdj 1 , and so on. After 

 some practice the men and boys become very expert 

 at this work. When the portion of the land comprised 

 within GHB and F has been completed, that on the 

 other side of the offset, viz. GHA and E, can be done 

 from the same offset, after which the portion on the 

 other side of the base line EF can be tackled. 



The triangular pattern is not used in Ceylon, but 



la similar somewhat more lengthy system would 



Ihave to be adopted. The distances of the pegs at 



jl, 2, 3, 4, etc., on line GF, would be equal to the sides 



of the triangles, while those on the offset, at a, b, c, d, 



etc., would be equal to the height of the triangles. 



