FORESTRY IN HUNGARY. 53 



among the many attractions, which make it one of the most delight- 

 ful cities in Europe. 



A visit to the Hungarian State forests is particularly instructive 

 to the Indian forester, because the conditions in them resemble, in 

 so many respects, those under which he has to work. There is 

 probably no country in Europe where the export of timber by 

 rough-and-ready means can be so well studied as it can now be in 

 Hungary ; and if time could be found for it, a tour in the Car- 

 pathians, during the months of April and May, might be most 

 advantageously added to the course of instruction, now given to 

 candidates for the Indian Forest service. 



CHAPTER III. 



A TOUR IN THE BANAT. 



General Description. 



The Domain of the Bandt is situated in the south-eastern corner 

 of Hungary, between latitudes 44° 41' and 45° 31'. The eastern 

 limit follows the crest of a chain of mountains, rising to a 

 maximum height of 4775 feet, and forming part of the eastern 

 Carpathian range. Spurs, alternating with valleys, run westwax-d 

 from the high ridge, and fall with a gentle slope to the level of 

 the great Hungarian plain, which lies at an elevation of from 300 

 to 500 feet above the level of the sea ; the altitude of Bazias, on 

 the Danube, being not more than 180 feet. Within this territory, 

 an area of 834 square miles (of which 357 square miles, or nearly 

 43 per cent., are forests, and the remainder fields, meadows, 

 vineyards, and pastures) was conceded to a Company in 1855, 

 together with its coal, iron, copper, and other mines, and the 

 factories for working them which had already been established by 

 the State. The Company also obtained the line of railway from 

 Vienna to Buda-Pesth, and thence to Bazias, with the branch line 

 to Resicza and Anina, making a total length of 723 miles; and 

 also the coal mines at Kladno in Bohemia. It at the same time 

 purchased, from the Yienna-Raab Company, 28 miles of railway 

 running from Vienna to Raab, and the locomotive shops at Vienna, 

 belonging to that Company. 



