11 



In the virgin Gouna forest, the yield of 182 acres in the three sections designated as 

 Els VII., "Knysna River I.," and "Klein Kop I.," was, per acre, 31 trees, contain- 

 ing 1,081 cubic feet. In the Main Forest, where all the best timber has been cut out long 

 since, the yield in one typical section : " Petrus Brand, 1885," was, per acre, 15 trees, con- 

 taining 361 cubic feet. In the sections " Portland 1.," " Eiland II.," and " Beer Vlei 

 1.," situated in forests less exhaustively worked, the yield of 162 acres was per acre 22 

 trees, containing 634 cubic feet. The comparatively stunted coast forests give, in the 

 typical section " Groot Brak II.," only 10 trees, containing 172 cubic feet, per acre. 

 Taking the whole of the sections that were open in 1888, the average yield of 2,758 acres 

 which they covered, was per acre 15 trees, containing 468 cubic feet. But allowing for 

 timber that had already been removed over part of the same ground during the year pre- 

 ceding, and for the greater richness of some of the remainder of the forest in the less 

 accessible places, the standing stock at present in the Knysna forest may be averaged as 

 above. 



The principal kinds of timber found in the Impetyne forest are, in addition to 

 Upright, Stinkwood and Bogabog, which comprise over 90 per cent, of the standing 

 stock, Sneeze wood, Saffraan, Hard Pear, Iron wood and Beukenhout. I did not see a 

 single specimen of the Outeniqua Yellowwood. The extraction of the timber is difficult 

 over the greater portion of the forest, and the produce has to be removed over several 

 miles of broken country before it can reach the nearest wagon-road, but using steep 

 gradients, a forest-road might be made at a reasonable cost. There are no Natives located 

 or squatting in the immediate neighbourhood, and wattle cutting has been moderate. I 

 am, however, informed that large troops of cattle are driven into the forest in winter ; 

 the damage which they cause is very apparent in the upper portions. 



Both the Ingeli and the Impetyne forests are placed under the supervision of Mr. J. 

 Furniss, who is paid 24 per annum for his services. Mr. Furniss deserves praise for his 

 efforts to stem their destruction by Natives ; he has succeeded in getting rid of the mealie 

 gardens which are so obnoxious a feature elsewhere, and there is no reason to believe 

 that their eradication throughout the Natal forests would be a matter of any great 

 difficulty. 



North of the Impetyne, there exists a small forest about 500 acres in extent, which 

 from being situated near the sources of the Umtamvuna, and against the boundary of 

 Griqualand East, not far from Fort Donald, was formerly held to belong to the Cape 

 Government. A dispute between the Xesibe and Natal Kafirs, led to the appointment, 

 in 1883, of a Commission to settle the boundary. From the position of a beacon placed 

 by Dr. Sutherland, when part of the Pondo territory was taken over by Sir Walter 

 Currie, it was found that the forest in question belongs to Natal. 



