ABSTRACT
Three years before felling, Teak trees are always ringed, or 'girdled', round the base by cutting through the bark and white sapwood to the brown heartwood. All trees are selected and girdled by a Government Agency. The Teak trees that have been selected for felling are often a long distance apart, and may be separated by rocky ravines or steep, jungle-covered slopes. All firms maintain herds of elephants working in parties under Burmese headmen, and the whole forest organisation is planned to suit the needs of these animals. As a rule a great deal of help from elephants is needed in the higher reaches. After the logs have been measured by Government and assessed for royalty, the rafts are ready to proceed down river to Rangoon or Moulmein, where the saw mills are situated. When the rafts reach Rangoon or Moulmein, they are taken to storage depots, where the logs remain until they are required for conversion in the mills.
