MANAGEMENT OF TEAK FORESTS. 21 



CHAPTER II. 



MANAGEMENT OP TEAK FORESTS - (continued.) 



WHEN I was sent up specially to build the Wellington Wellington 



Barracks, in 1856, I found they had no timber on hand, and a 



could only obtain a small supply from the Anamallies with 



difficulty at an immense cost, for it was carted up the old 



Coonoor Ghat, some of the gradients of which were one in six. 



The estimate for the timber was six lacs or three rupees a 



cubic foot delivered. The Anamallies at that time were 



delivering all their best timber at Poonani for the Bombay 



Dockyard, and for which they received Rupees 3-8 the cubic 



foot, so it was not worthwhile to sell under that sum to the 



Barracks delivered at Coimbatore; the cost of the carriage 



from Coimbatore to Wellington never was fairly known, as 



dozens of bullocks died in bringing up the timber, and were 



not charged to it. However, the case stood thus : the estimate 



for the timber was three rupees, and it was costing over 



Rupees 4-8 the cubic foot, and even at that price only a little 



was to be obtained. On arrival, I found the Ootacamund 



Timber Market had not a log over fifteen feet, and we required 



a very large number over twenty-four feet for girders. Fortu- 



nately, I was able to secure a rented forest, adjoining the 



Wynaad Teak Belt, and by 1860 or in less than four years, de- 



livered two-hundred thousand cubic feet of timber to the 



Barracks at a cost of only one rupee the cubic foot, after all 



charges had been paid. In working this forest, I at once Saving by working 



introduced elephants, the Coorumbers had to be trained arentedforest 



to fell only the largest and best trees, as they were 



in the habit of felling a tree that would just measure about 



twelve cubic feet, as they were paid by the log. I introduced Reorganisation of 



the system of payment by the cubic foot, and they soon ^w mod^of ^ " 



learnt the value of it ; at oue time they gave much trouble, workiu g- 



every large tree was " Swami Tree" and could not be 



cut ; even this difficulty was surmounted. Of course, on 



taking over a forest, worked by a native, it was necessary 



to re-organize the establishment, make roads, build carts, 



and in fact, provide for an extensive establishment, At 



