HARVESTING MALLET BARK

The brown mallet trees' bark was harvested to make the tanning for leatherwork. Mallet bark was collected as a source of income.

'I carried my axe and I never put it down. You'd cut an axe-length strip off- knock it off with the heel of the axe - then cut the tree down and then take the rest of the bark off. You'd only do it when the sap was running - it came off more easily then. You'd chuck some leaves and branches over the bark - keep it moist - till you rolled it up. I used to pull the rolls tight with a strap,' oral interview Laurie Bowers

a) This spoon-like implement with a sharp end, running it along through the bark along the length of the trunk.

b) Mallet Bark Hoe(2) : This impement was used to initially cut into the bark covering of the Mallet tree to separate the bark from the trunk

Also in photo a cross cut saw used to fell trees.

c) A roll of Mallet bark ready for transport.

Photos taken in situ at the Kodj Galley - the Kodja Place.