BOTANY OF THE CEYLON PATANAS. 317 
forest, which, as has been pointed out, has a shrubby under- 
growth, is followed by the appearance of * Chena” composed of 
the hardier and more-resisting forest undershrubs, or of an 
exotic Lantana. But this objection does not apply to the Uva 
patana-lands, for, reasoning from the present distribution of 
savannah-forest and wet-forest, one must conclude that the only 
forest which, under the present climatic conditions, can have 
existed on the Uva slopes below 4000-5000 feet must have 
been of the savannah-type which now covers the Park-country ; 
and it is obvious that ‘ Chena " cannot result from the firing of a 
savannah-forest, owing to the absence of a shrubby undergrowth. 
Above 5000 feet, as will be seen later, the patana has un- 
doubtedly resulted from the disappearance of a montane wet- 
forest of the ordinary type; but here other causes, which will be 
referred to below, prevent the formation of a low scrub on the 
cleared ground. 
With regard to the poverty of the Uva patana-lands, it has 
been pointed out that, according to the theory advanced, the 
poverty of the soil in both quality and amount 1s indirectly a 
consequence of the recurrent grass-fires; and further, instead 
of the Uva patana-lands being the last pieces of ground to be 
selected for clearing by a grazier, they would be far more likely 
to be chosen than any of the more luxuriant wet-forest, whose 
undergrowth would not supply the desired pasture. 
Abbay’s third objection is not one upon which much stress 
need be laid. An important argument can hardly be based 
upon the mere absence of tradition with regard to a change 
which must have occupied a very long period, possibly cen- 
turies, among a primitive pastoral people such as the Hill-tribes 
of Ceylon. 
The opinion that the Uva patanas were onee covered by a 
savannah-forest similar to that which now exists in the Park- 
country has been expressed more than once in the reports of the 
forest-conservators (23) ; and it has been continually pointed out 
in the same reports that the present custom of firing the patanas, 
which, as has beeu seen, is probably a survival of that which 
produced them, is causing the further deterioration of the soil 
(24) where any still remains, and the destruetion of all but 
the coarser and more enduring species of grass (25). And, there- 
fore, according to the short-sighted policy of the grazier, the 
annual patana-fires become more necessary each year. 
22 
