The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-10-17
sells the mahogany trade has decreased ga to
notable extent, although it is still large

the wood are much greater. Few trees
can now he found near river OF SUM
Gent water to float the logs. Having
selected and secured suitable locality
ann arranged with one of the exporting
houses of Belize to advance the means IN
provisions and cash to carry on the WORKS,
the mahogany cutter hires his gang OF
Iaborers for the season.. Nearly all labor
contracts arc made during the Christmas
HOLIDAYS, as the gangs from the mahogany
works all congregatc in Belize NJ that
time. The men are hired for year al
wages ranging from sl2 to $50 per month
They generally receive six months wages
in advance, one-haif of which is paid in
goods from the house which furnishes the
capital. The cash received by the lahorcrs
is mostly wasted in dissipation before they
Leave the city. Early in January the
works are commenced. Camps(or "banks,
as they are caled) are organized at con-
venicnt places on the margin of some river
in the district TO be worked Temporary
houses thached with palm leaves are
erected for the laborers, and substantial
building for the store and dwelling OF the
overscer.
All MUTh III mahogany cutting 40 'NO''
by tasks The best laborers are out at
daybreak and generally finish their task
before o'clock. The rest of the day can
be spent in fishing, hunting, collecting
India rubber and sarsaparilla, or in work
ing up mahogany into dories, paddles and
bowles, for all of which they find ready
market. Game and fish are abundant, the
former consisting of two varieties Of hogs
iwarree and peccnry), deer and antelopes,
tapir (mountain cow, monkeys, two varc-
ties of wild turkeys, armadillocs, gibonets'
Indian rabbits, cartridges, quail, macaws'
parrots. etc The rivers abound in excel.
lent fish, and the supply Of tcrrApin and
iguanas is ncxhaustible.
The regular ration for laborer in this
country consists Of four pounds OF salt
pork and seven quarts Of -four per week,
which is delivered to him every Sunday
morning. The abundance of game and
Wild fruits enable the mahogany laboreT
to save large part of his rations, which
he either sells to his employer or sends
home to his family. The standard OF
morality in the mahogany camps is de-
cidcdlv low. Women of easy virtue arc
always present, and cause frequent quar-
rcls and disorder Disputes and questions
concerning such women are settled by the
ovcrseer in accordance with regulations
long established and recognized by the
lab0rcrs; for instance, man who cntices
woman away from another with whom
she has been living must pay all expenses
incurred ny the latter in bringing her to
the camp, and supplying her with clothing
and ornaments.
The owner or ovcrseer of mahogany
works is distinguished parsonage within
the district of his operations. He lives
well. often luxuriously, and has many and
varied sources Of enjoyment. His rustic
dwelling in the forest is supplied with
every comfort and many luxuries. He
travels up and down the river in batcau
made of mahogany and fitted up regard
less of expense for enjoyment and con-
ycnicncc He carries everything ncedtul
for hunting and fishing, and his lockers
arc supplied with the choicest vinnds,
wines. liquors and cigars. His crew con-
sists Of from twelve to twenty skilful row.
crs, generally Indians, and Il captain,
cook and waiting boy. He camps out Mt
night on the bank Of the river, where
sayory dishes are prepared which would
puzzle the uninitiatcd. No menu is con-
sidered complete without entremets of
monkey and igunna cooked n Ia criollo,
delicious even to the uninitiated.
The mahogany tree hunter is the most
important and best paid laborcr in the
service. Upon his skill and activity
largely depends the success of the season.
Mahogany trees do not grow in crumps or
clusters, but are scattered promiscuously
through the forests and hidden in n dense
growth of underbrush, vines and crcepers.
1t requires skilful and experienced
woodsman to find them. No one can make
any progress in n tropical forest without
the aid of IL machete or heavy brush knife.
He has to cut his way step by step.
The mahogany is one of the largest and
talcst of trees. The hunter seeks the
highest ground, climbs to the top of the
highest tree and surveys the surrounding
country. His practiccd eyes detect the
mahogany by its peculiar foliage; he
counts the trees within the scope of his
vision. notes direction and distances, then
desccnds and cuts narrow trail to each
tree, which he carefully blazcs and marks,
especially if there is rival hunter in
that vicinity. The axemcn follow the
| hunter. and after them 20 the snwycrs
and hcwcrs.
To fell large mahogany tree is one days
task for two men. On account of the wide
spurs which project from the trunk at its
base scaiiolds have to be erected and the
tree cut off above the spurs, which leaves
stump from ten to fifteen feet high, n
waste OF the very beet wood.
While the work of telling and hewing is
in progress other gangs arc employed in
making roads and bridges over which the
logs are to be hauled to the river Ono
wide truck pass. as they call it, is made
| through the centrcSof the district occupied
by the works, and branch roads are opened
from the main avenue to each tree. The
trucks employed are clumsy and anti
quatcd contrivanccs, which no American
would think of using The axle and
boxes are imported from England, and the
other parts Of the truck arc made on the
ground Tho wheels are Of solid wood,
made by saving off the end of log and
fitting iron boxes in the centre. No tire or
spokcs are needed. New wheels are in
constant requisition, and repairs cause
frequent and expensive delays. Most of
the trucking is done at night by torch
lights made of pitch-pine. The oxen are
fed on the leaves and twigs of the bread
nut tree, wich gives them moro strength
and power of endurance than any other
obtainable food.
The trucking il done in the dry season
and the logs collected on the bank of the
river and made ready for the floods, which
occur on the longest rivers in Juno and
july and on all in October and November.
The logs are turned adrift loose and
caught below near tidewater by blooms.