72 COFFEE I ITS CULTIVATION AND PROFIT. 



in the deep woods surround him on every hand ; 

 but, alas ! his errand is one of destruction, he 

 comes not to admire and withdraw, but to wage 

 war with fire and steel. 



A belt having been drawn around the doomed 

 jungle, the trees are felled either wholly or partially. 

 In the first case, the operation is simply one of 

 universal destruction. It is usual to employ contract 

 coolies for the work of demolishing. They bring up 

 with them such cooking pots and pans and tools as 

 they require, camping out in lean-to huts run up 

 alongside the clearings, and remaining by their work 

 until it is finished. Their axes are small and light 

 by comparison to English or American weapons, 

 but very effective in native hands. The first trees 

 cut are along the line of the lowest ground, and 

 then another tier above them is deeply notched, 

 but none of these are cut through completely. 

 Thus, perhaps, half a clearing will be treated if the 

 day is still and windless, and then the headman 

 goes to the highest rank of forest giants and, with 

 a few vigorous blows, topples over a medium-sized 

 sapling. In its fall it brings two others with it. 

 These are matted together by rattens with more 

 which give way, and so tier after tier rocks and 

 swings, the strain spreading, when suddenly, with a 

 mighty roar, the hill-side is unlaced, and a thousand 

 years of timber go to perdition with one huge far- 

 sounding crash. There can be no special advantage 

 in this scene ; probably it is chiefly liked as repre- 



