FOREST PRODUCTS. 107 



CHAPTER XIV. 



ON FOREST PRODUCTS. 



THE forests of Malabar are some of the finest in the 

 Presidency, They cover an enormous area of the district. 

 The genera and species of trees, &c., comprised in the 

 Flora are numerous, and varied, and the economic products 

 yielded by them, equally so. 



In the enumeration of these products and the method 

 of their collection, I will classify them in the following 



order : 



(1) Gums, resins and oleo-resins. 



(2) Oils, essential and fixed. 



(3) Tan barks and dyes. 



(4) Fibres, and paper materials. 



(5) Spices, drugs and medicinal roots. 



(6) Edible fruits, roots, &c. 



(7) Sundry products. 



Acacia Arabica. This tree occurs sparingly in the 

 Palghat Taluq of the district. Gum exudes from fissures in 

 the bark, or knife cuts, purposely or accidentally made, in 

 the dry weather. It is of excellent quality, of a pale straw 

 or yellowish red colour, and is occasionally eaten by children. 

 The amount produced in the district is so small as to be 

 hardly worth mentioning. 



Acacia Sundra found in the Walayar reserves; but 

 does not extend further west or south; produces a fair 

 catechu. I have not, however, known it manufactured in 

 the district. 



AdenantMra pavonina yields a clear gum, not col- 

 lected. 



Aegle Marmelos yields a poor brown gum in round 

 nodules. 



Ailanthus Malabarica found in the Anamallays ; yields 

 a brownish coloured plastic resin known as Muttipdl. It is 

 extensively burnt as incense by the natives. The Mulcers, 



