8 



East of the Umzimkulu River, there are again many patches of forest scattered about on 

 steep hillsides, the aggregate area of which may be reckoned at 1,200 acres. The Ini 

 forest, forming the principal patch, is reported to be rich in yellowwood but difficult to 

 get at, and it has, like the others, remained untouched. 



The number of Natives in Location No. 1 seems to be comparatively small, and 

 most of the huts are clustered away from the forests, at the eastern end, near Dronk Ylei. 

 The forests in the location have not suffered severely from recent fires, and the damage 

 sustained from wattle-cutting and cultivation has been considerably less than the average 

 elsewhere. 



Between Location No. 1 and Location No. 3 to the south, the TTmkazini forest, 

 about 1,200 acres in area, has been reserved. The hillside which it covers overlooks the 

 Gwangwane River and slopes rapidly with a south-western aspect ; altitude, 4,500 feet. 

 The forest was poor at the best of times ; and as it has been worked considerably, there 

 remains very little timber of value. Both Yellowwoods, Sneezewood, Natal Mahogany, 

 or Zwartbast are still found, but the trees are inferior and scarce. At the time of my 

 visit, quantities of poles and spars were being cut for the Trappist Missionaries at Dronk 

 Vlei it was stated by permission of the Government and removed along a large slip 

 path penetrating far into the forest. 



The Crown forests in the division of Polela are placed under the supervision of Mr. 

 G. A. Jackson, who is allowed 25 per cent, of the collections. The amounts thus 

 received are too small to warrant any patrolling of the forest, and Mr. Jackson cannot be 

 expected to do more than issue licenses. It would be simpler to collect forest revenue 

 through Magistrates if enough is not spent on supervision to make it effective. 



FORESTS IN THE IXOPO DIVISION. In the division of Ixopo there are three 

 supervisors of Crown forests, Messrs. Surridge, Simons, and Howes, who also receive 

 25 per cent, on collections. The high timber forests only cover some 1,600 acres in 

 the two reserves in charge of Mr. Howes, and 400 acres in Location No. 5, in charge 

 of Mr. Surridge ; the rest is Thorn bush. All these forests are situated in the valley 

 of the Umkomanzi, west of the river. They are not nearly so valuable as those 

 in the Polela division. Yellowwood is comparatively scarce, and more plentiful trees 

 are the Wild Chesnut, the Bogabog, and the Beukenhoot (Myrsine melanophleos) 

 near the edges. In Location No. 5, forest destruction seems to have been severe, and the 

 seven or eight small patches that have been left in the valley of the Lufafa, a tributary 

 of the Umkomanzi, are very considerably damaged. The altitude is here 3,500 4,000 

 feet, and the aspect south. 



FORESTS IN ALFRED COUNTY. The Forests in Alfred County are, next to those 

 at Polela, the most valuable in Natal. 



The Ingeli Forest extends for five miles along the south-eastern slopes of a spur of 



