Another On The Verge of Extinction

Horai Khaiba (Big Saw Work)

The biggest of the big trees are sawed by this BIG SAW since ancient times. They build the proper props for hoisting up the big trees to begin work. It involves two strong men to handle this BIG SAW called "Horai". This sight's been one common roadside view during our childhood times. But it gradually drifted away from our sight since the advent of electric saw mills.

However, even today, deep in the far away jungles in the mountains, this seasonal activities' been going on! Dozens of such strong men in groups will camp in deep forests for months as an alternative way of earning during the lean seasons of farming.

Both Bapin and me are trying to document this rare activity since the past one or two weeks. These tough guys come from far away and began working on this rare job since the past few months. We've also begun the documenting work some weeks ago. But, today morning, the opportunity comes to directly record the procedure in photographs.

This work requires tremendous strength and stamina along with the skill. It's no wonder, the old folks often remarked that "It's not sawing the timber, but sawing one's own chest". And the fatigue from this work's been so great that there's another old saying "the tired saw-man frantically seek for a cool shadow to rest under even in the moonlight"!!