THE LIVE OAKERS. 125 
_ Presently he sees tle wood-cutters, who, light- 
ly attired, shouldering their bright axes, proceed 
to their toils. On the opposite sides of some far- 
spreading oak they station themselves, while, 
with continuous blows of their keen-edged im- 
plements, they strive to cleave its mossy far- 
shooting roots. One of their companions ascends 
another tree stem. Proceeding cautiously, he 
climbs to the height of perhaps forty feet from 
the ground, then stops—measures himself on the 
trunk of which he boldly stands, and wields 
with strong muscular arm his well-tempered 
steel, till soon the trunk remains connected only 
by a thin stripe. Then shaking with all his 
might, the huge log is seen to swing, suddenly 
give way, and striking the earth with its weight, 
the crash of its fall is heard to re-echo through- 
out the neighbouring space. Then, when the 
wood-cutter has slidden by the aid of a grape- 
vine to the ground, the rest of his party con- 
gregate to examiue the fallen trunk. 
This they cut at either end, and if it is proved 
sound, they proceed to take its measurement, 
and lay out the timber for use by the aid of 
models, showing the different forms and sizes 
required, On the discovery of a good planta- 
tion, the cutters, or Live Oakers as they are 
called, build themselves log dwellings, in which 
to slumber by night, and take their repast by 
11* 
