"SABTAGE" IN INDIA. 91 



of North Canara, where the remaining timber is much 

 enhanced in value, and not more than sufficient for present 

 demands, there are strong objections to this wasteful and 

 barbarous system. I think that in Government forests, 

 before clearances are made, permission should first be 

 obtained from the revenue authorities in communication 

 with this department, the locality and extent of the clear- 

 ance being defined/ 



In the final order issued by the Government, addressed 

 to Dr Cleghorn under date of 23d May 1860, it is stated: 

 ' It has been already noticed that in Mysore the practice 

 of Koomaree cutting has been entirely abolished ; and that 

 in the jungle districts of Bombay it has been so very 

 nearly. The Government now prohibit Sarkar, Koomaree, 

 or Koomaree cultivation in Government forests without 

 previous permission. This permission should be given 

 sparingly, and never for spots in the timber forests.' 



And in the Report for 1860 of Dr Cleghorn, as Con- 

 servator of Forests, it is stated in regard to this order : 

 ' The Government have issued definite orders on the future 

 treatment of Koomaree cultivation in Canara, which is now 

 prohibited except in cases where the land has been so 

 cultivated within the last twelve years. It is understood 

 that, under no circumstances, are valuable forests to be so 

 treated. It has been shown that the system is injurious 

 to the welfare of the wandering tribes by whom it is prac- 

 tised ; for, although Koomaree is itself profitable, the 

 growers are not the gainers, the Soucars on the coast 

 enjoying the larger share of the profits. When Koomaree 

 does not interfere with the growth of valuable timber, as 

 in the taluk of Bekal (where it is exhausted) the Govern- 

 ment has exercised forbearance, and it has been allowed to 

 continue for the present/ 



In the Presidency of Bombay the designation Koomaree 

 takes the form Koomri. The Conservator of Forests in 

 that Province, in one of his reports, apparently that of 



