278 SYLVICULTURE IX THE TROPICS pt 



. IV 



While part of the gang is left to control the fire on the 

 line, and if necessary' to stop it, the remainder will set 

 to work to beat out the flames where they are intruding. 

 It may be possible to master them at once with well- 

 directed blows with the brooms, but, if they have got 

 beyond that stage, it is often not possible to face them 

 at their apex. The beating out of the fire should then 

 be carried out along its edges until the apex is reached. 

 Supposing, e.g., that the fire has broken across the guide- 

 line at points a and c on Fig. 88, and that it has 

 penetrated into the forest, burning out a wedge abc, 

 the beating out should be from a to b and from c to b. 

 It may be some time before the fire can be mastered, 



Fig. 88. 



and some of the forest may be swept by fire. If it 

 gets entirely out of control, and cannot be so guided as 

 to pass over only a comparatively small portion of the 

 block, counter-firing will have to be resorted to. This 

 may be started from one of the interior fire-lines ; or, if 

 time allows, it may be possible to hastily cut a guide- 

 line from which the counter-firing may be started ; or 

 advantage may be taken of existing roads, watercourses, 

 or even footpaths from which to start the counter-fire. 



From the time when the fire-lines have been burnt, 

 they are put under the care of a temporary establish- 

 ment of fire-watchers, whose duty it is to patrol them, 

 sweep away from the guide-lines any dead leaves, twigs, 

 or other inflammable substances which may have fallen 

 on them. These should be swept into small heaps in the 

 centre of the trace, and these heaps should be set fire to 



