TEAK. 
4 
economical at the end to use teakwood sleepers on narrow- 
guage light Railways, especially when it is difficult to 
obtain hardwood. 
The teak forests are now under the control of the 
Royal Forest Department. After 1896 several Royal De- 
crees were promulgated providing for the better protec- 
tion and contro! of the teak trade. The trees selected 
are girdled, or in other words, rings are cut through their 
bark, preventing the sap from rising,and they are left stan- 
ding toseason. After thatthey can be felled. The 
selection and girdling is done under the supervision 
of a Forest Officer, by cutting aring around the tree 
about four feet above ground 12 cm. deep and 25 
cm. broad. The elephants drag the jogs together 
to suitable placesand from there to the next stream 
where they will be marked with the “hammer-marks” 
of the owners. - The logs are measured anda proper dc- 
count is kept of the logs drawn together. If the rainy 
season sets in and the streams are full of water, the logs 
are dragged into the stream by elephants and they will 
keep them moving and follow them downwards till thev 
