The top end of the tree he selected would be cut two feet from what would end up the mouthpiece. The top end would be solid wood, as the ants had not worked themselves up to this point. He would then cut four to five inch sections until he reach the section ants had been working on. What he looked for was when the hole was about the size of a penny. At that time the knives would come out and he began the work of shaping the mouthpiece.
More work seems to be put into the working of the mouthpiece than the bell end of the stick.
For western I think we are drawn to the bell end of the sticks. Probably directly is best. But first I want to let you know that the question is somewhat open ended. By way of explanation, I will say that as I have traveled and talked with musicians from all over the world, I have noticed feelings which come up. But music, for me anyway, is very much about feelings.