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Nearer the coast, the timber forests are less numerous and of a more stunted 

 character. In the valley of the Umgonieza river, a forest of the same name covers some 

 300 acres. At the upper end, about 20 acres have been cut off by the boundary line of 

 the farm " Zuinat." I was informed that most of the remainder had been recently 

 surveyed for Mr. N. Hoyea. Licenses were formerly issued for working in this forest, 

 but yellowwood is scarce and wagonwood was principally cut. 



Three Native locations have been laid out against the Natal boundary. In the 

 Umkombeza or Tom Fyn's, and the Macale locations, there are perhaps 800 acres of low 

 bush in tributary kloofs of the Umtamvuna. In the Maxolo location situated further 

 south, near the coast, some kloofs running to the sea are wooded over 800 acres or more. 

 Near the mouth of the Umtamvuna itself, there is a comparatively good forest, the extent 

 of which may be estimated at 500 acres. All these forests are more or less stunted, and 

 gradually pass into the ordinary coast forest. 



Large quantities of wattles are said to be cut in the locations, and I was informed 

 that whole wagon loads of wattles, cut in the Umtamvuna forest, are often taken 

 beyond Harding. There was no supervision of any kind at the time of my visit, but it 

 appears that Mr. H. Lugg, of Murchison, has been recently appointed to surpervise the 

 forests in the newly created Lower Umzimkulu Division. 



The total area of the timber forests in Alfred County may be estimated at 6,600 

 acres on Crown land, and 1,600 acres on Native locations. 



FOKESTS IN ALEXANDRA COUNTY. East of the Umzimkulu river, there are some 

 timber forests on the back hills, of which Mr. Bru de Wold has nominal charge. The 

 largest is the Dimbunkulu, situated in the location near St. Faith's, and about 2,000 

 acres in area ; it covers south and south-west slopes in the valley of Umzuinbi, west of 

 the river. The most noticeable woods are the Upright Yellowwood, Black Ironwood 

 and Milkwood. The trees are sometimes large, and the forest clean ; in other places 

 the growth is low and scrubby. There are no roads near the forest, and much of it is 

 inaccessible for purposes of working. 



Natives in the location cut wattles and firewood freely, but very few licenses seem 

 to have been issued. There is no effective protection. Native constables employed at 

 Durnisa, are occasionaliy told off' to patrol the forest, but I do not think that they can be 

 depended upon. Mealie gardens fringe every accessible portion, and year by year fires 

 and clearings further reduce the wooded area. Natives are accustomed to drive troops of 

 cattle into the forest in winter. Hunting parties are said to be frequent. The locations 

 near the forest contains good grazing ground, and is thickly populated by Umpotyane'a 

 and Mabiya's people. 



