MANUAL SAWING AND LAITHING

          The cousins, Vakkamma and Kakko Ikyanad were men on  this Island  who had the skill to saw large logs or tree trunks. They had a long and wide crosscut saw. The blades were tough with a hard toothed edge. It had handles on both ends. They raise the huge log inch by inch with the help of sturdy bellies and place it on a higher platform. One of these men  climb on top of the log and the other squat beneath it. The cut is made by placing the toothed edge against the wood and moving it forcefully up and down. In this way the huge woodn block is  cut into  planks of varied size. These wooden planks distinctly sporting their elegant  grains used  as building material or furniture making. 

Electrically powered saw mills at Thevara with circular designed blades are used   to cross cut through the logs of wood.  Baheer Erattupetta has started working a new saw mill abutting NH-47 at Kumbalam. George has started another planing center near Kumbalam-Panangad Bridge on the NH-47 to cater to the needs of our villagers.

 

          Lawrence Mudayath has commenced a wood laithing, ‘Kadachil’, unit at Kumbalam and he is picking up sufficient work.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

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