194 TlMEHRI. 
cuts from the base of the tree obliquely upwards towards 
himself in the bark a narrow channel, then moving round 
on the other side a similar one. These grooves are 
generally about eighteen inches long, but this depends a 
good deal on the size of the tree and the practice of the 
individual collector. They form an acute angle at the 
base, just below which a niche is cut in the bark, and 
is slightly lifted with the end of the cutlass and a calabash 
inserted by the rim under it, where it is held tightly with 
the increasing weight of milk. Occasionally a piece of 
palm or maranta leaf is inserted under the bark, and the 
calabash is stood on the ground, the leaf conducting 
the milk into it. The channels are then quickly cut 
upwards, parallel to each other on the opposite sides 
about ten inches apart, the operator turning his face to 
the tree after the lower ones are made and continuing 
them as far as he can reach, which is about eight feet 
from the ground. They run one into the other, right and 
left alternately in this way : — 
The lines carried on would form a loose spiral on 
the trunk like the twining exhibited in the forest so 
often of large bush ropes, only that with every com- 
plete turn the lines would cross each other. The 
milk trickles from cut to cut down the zigzag line till 
it runs into the calabash at the base. When carefully 
