THE SAL FORESTS. 383 



of tlie animal from all such uses was probably a measure 

 of the highest policy. Even looked on as an article 

 of food, it is probable that the sacredness of the cow- 

 has been productive of more gain than loss, milk and 

 butter being much more wholesome articles of diet 

 than beef in a hot climate. Certainly, any measure 

 which would be likely to endanger the existing supply 

 of plough-cattle would be highly objectionable. But 

 I think that no apprehension of the sort need be enter- 

 tained from the probable reclamation of such tracts 

 as the Mandla savannahs. Sufficient forest land must 

 always remain in the higher regions to furnish the 

 green bite at the end of the hot season, which is all 

 that is necessary to tide the herds over the most trying 

 part of the year, and, for the rest, the people will soon 

 learn to do as other countries have done, and as other 

 parts of India even have done, namely, devote a part 

 of the cultivated area to the raising of green pasture, 

 by irrigation, for the cattle. This fine natural pasture 

 is no doubt a great advantage ; but it is not at all 

 indispensable even in India. 



The resources of the country in iron and other 

 mineral wealth have never been fully examined, though 

 it is evident on the surface that they are abundant. 

 Oold is washed out of the sands of more than one of 

 the streams, in small quantities, however, which barely 

 repay the labour, and it is probable that its lodes are 

 buried in the quartz of the primitive rocks deep below 

 the flow of volcanic material that has overlaid them. 



In the matter of climate, like all uncleared regions 

 in this latitude at so low an elevation, the tract is 

 subject to malarious fever during the months of October 

 to January, But experience shows that this influence 

 lasts only so long as the country continues uncleared. 



