The quantity of mature timber that has been taken from the forest cannot be 

 considerable, as there is still an abundant supply of Upright Yellow wood of large 

 dimensions, averaging nearly 3 feet in diameter, and much Stinkwood and Natal 

 Mahogany of fair quality. Sneezewood is scarce. Though the slopes which the forest 

 covers are generally steep, it appears that most of the timber could be extracted. There 

 is very little spare Crown Land in the vicinity, a circumstance that would render the 

 working difficult. The forest is accessible from the main road to Polela, and the produce 

 could be transported easily. The ruling rates to Richmond are 30 to 40 shillings for loads 

 of 800 running feet. Yellowwooi was formerly delivered at the saw pits for 4 or 

 4 10s. a load, when the license was one pound a saw per month. For sawing, Kafirs 

 are paid 12 to 15 shillings a load, cut into scantlings or planks. Hard woods are cut at 

 the same rates, but the load is reduced to 600 feet. Natives for felling receive 10 to 

 15 shillings a month, and food worth 7 or 8 shillings. The Native locations in the 

 neighbourhood could supply a large amount of cheap labour. 



The edge of the forest is very broken ; mealie gardens extend from the Dumadezwa 

 Location all along the forest-line, and some of the clearings have even been made right 

 into the heart of the forest. Thousands of heads of cattle are said to be regularly driven 

 each winter into the forest for shelter, causing much damage to the undergrowth. 



In the adjoining location, No. 4 Upper Umkornanzi, there are about 500 acres of 

 forest, in detached patches, of a character similar to that of the Xumeni. Much of it 

 covers banks too steep for working. 



The road to Polela passes through the south-western corner of location No. 2, Upper 

 Umkomanzi, not far from two or three strips of forest spread along the north banks 

 of a tributary of the Umkomanzi River. These forests contain about 650 acres ; they 

 are fringed with mealie gardens which have crept in wherever the ground was not too 

 steep for cultivation. Unless any further clearing or cutting is prevented, the forest will 

 have disappeared within a few years. 



The Mahutywa Forest is situated a mile west of Polela, just outside the location No. 

 2, Upper Umkomanzi. Its extent is about 800 acres, and the mean altitude 4,500 feet. 

 It covers the northern side of a valley intersected by minor kloofs. With the exception 

 of a main ridge and of a flat terrace near the river at the bottom, the ground is too steep 

 for convenient working. The soil is light and deep, but stony in the steep places.. 

 Maritzburg shale forms the underlying rock. The forest has been partially worked and 

 there are no trees of great size. The principal species are the Outeniqua and Upright 

 Yellowwoods, the Camdeboo Stinkwood, the Sneezewood, the Wild Chesnut, the Natal 

 Mahogany, the White Ironwood (Toddalia lanceolata), the White Pear (Apodytes 

 dimidiata}, Euclea lanceolata, Pleetronia spp., Kraussia lanceolata, Royena lucida, 

 Gardenia Rothmannia, Olea verrucosa, Elceodendron spp., Celastrus spp., Dombeya 



