PRESENTATION TO HUGH CLEGHOEN OF STRAVITHIE. 199 



letter from Sir Dietrich Brandis, ex-Inspector-General of Forests 

 in India, dated 14tli July, in which he writes: — "It is a great 

 source of regret that I shall not be able to be present on 7th 

 August, on the occasion of the presentation of a memorial to Dr 

 Cleghorn. Would you do me the favour to mention that I am 

 extremely sorry I cannot attend, as the duty which I have under- 

 taken for the India Office, to conduct the senior students at 

 Cooper's Hill on their autumnal tour, will make it impossible for 

 me to be present." Proceeding, Sir William Muir said: — -While 

 my acquaintance with Dr Cleghorn began only in 18G1, when at 

 Cairo on our way to India, Sir Dietrich Brandis has kindly fur- 

 nished me with an account of Dr Cleghorn's earlier Indian career, to 

 Avhich I will take the opportunity of referring on one or two points. 

 After marching about with his regiment for a year or two in the 

 Madras Presidency, Dr Cleghorn was enabled to lead a more settled, 

 life, when he at once applied himself to scientific work. He early 

 perceived the immense importance of the tropical forests. He 

 saw that as the population spread out, the people were tempted to 

 invade the forests and cultivate within them. He was one of 

 the first of those who were at the bottom of the grand Forestry 

 work now being carried on in India. Early impressed with the 

 devastating results of what was known as "Koomri" cultivation, 

 as far back as thirty years ago he was instrumental in getting orders 

 issued by the Government to stop that wasteful system. It 

 was just such a man as our friend who could best carry out 

 Forestry measures amongst the people of India without appearing 

 tyrannical or overbearing. As Sir D. Brandis writes : — " Dr 

 Cleghorn was able to carry his point in regard to Koomri cultiva- 

 tion, because he was known to be a true friend of the natives ; 

 he entertained feelings of warm sympathy towards them, and 

 had made himself familiar with their modes of life and systems 

 of husbandry. As a medical man his name was widely known, 

 and he had acquired much influence among the native population. 

 When urging the discontinuance of Koomri cultivation in Madras, 

 as he had previously urged it in Mysore, he knew that he was pro- 

 posing measures which in the end would be highly beneficial for the 

 people themselves. Dr Cleghorn's single-minded desire to promote 

 the welfare of the people was evident to those who at that time 

 were in influential positions in Madras, and the confidence which 

 they placed in him was the secret of his success in this important 

 matter." In 1850, when the British Association was v\ Edinburgh, 



