THE SAL FORESTS. 370 



however, equally efifective, and do not destroy the life of 

 the tree, like the former method. The rinfjinor of sal 

 trees has now been entirely prohibited within our terri- 

 tories ; but I do not think that any more economical 

 method has as yet been substituted, the vast area of sal 

 in native states being sufficient to supply the present 

 wants of the trade. The dammcr is collected, and^ 

 together with lac dye, is exchanged for salt, beads, and 

 arrow-poison, brought by peripatetic traders with pack- 

 bullocks, who annually visit their wilds for the purpose. 

 This may be said to be the only commercial transaction 

 of the Byga in the whole year. He rarely visits the 

 low-country markets, like the other tribes, and has 

 scarcely a knowledge of coined money. 



Fortunately the sal tree, unlike the teak, is pos- 

 sessed of a most inextinguishable reproductive power, 

 the seeds being shed by every mature tree in millions, 

 and ready to germinate at once in a favourable position. 

 The seedlings shoot rapidly above the danger of jungle- 

 fires, and grow straight and tall before branching out. 

 The timber of the sal, if inferior to the teak for some 

 purposes, such as carpentry and transverse beams, is 

 superior for others, such as wheel-work and uprights, 

 its straight, firm grain giving it immense power of 

 resistance to crushing. It is almost the only timber 

 tree of Upper India, where teak is unknown. The 

 unlimited water - power of these rivers will supply 

 the means of converting it on the spot ; and the 

 Narbadti will form a highvvay for floating it to the open 

 valley. Sal will not swim by itself, until seasoned for 

 several years ; but the hills produce an unlimited 

 quantity of the finest bamboos, a bundle of which tied 

 round a log will support it, and which are themselves of 

 the highest economic value. At present these forests 



