" SARTAGE IN INDIA." 87 



f 2. In addition to climatic considerations, the chief 

 evils of this rude system of culture are the destruction of 

 valuable timber, at present urgently required for ship- 

 building and railways, and the rendering of land unfit for 

 coffee (see Mr Cannan's letter, p. 129) cultivation. Where 

 trees do not attain a great size, laterite being near the 

 surface, or where the timber cannot be removed to a road 

 or river from physical obstructions, or where there is 

 extensive bamboo jungle, there is not the same objection 

 to this cultivation ; the clearing of bamboos is useful, and 

 the Koomaree yields a supply of millet grain to the hill 

 tribes. 



' 3. In the course of my tours I have constantly an eye 

 to the extent of Komaree cultivation, and it is a matter of 

 satisfaction, to me to find that owing to the practice being 

 disallowed, it has ceased in Mysore, has also greatly 

 diminished in the Southern Mahratta country, and is 

 rapidly decreasing in Canara. The system is objection- 

 able for the reasons above given, and I think every effort 

 should be made to do away with it as far as possible, 

 although motives of policy may perhaps require that this 

 consummation be gradually brought about. This I would 

 leave in the hands of the collectors, with the proviso that 

 no virgin forest or forest of old standing be broken up, 

 but that Koomaree be henceforth confined to land which 

 has been within twelve years devoted to that purpose. 



' 4. South Canara Bekal. In Bekal taluk there is not 

 now any valuable timber. Koomaree cultivation has always 

 prevailed there to a great extent ; and from its adjoining 

 Malabar, where Koomaree is unlimited, it would be difficult 

 to restrict it more than is suggested by the collector. The 

 prohibition not to cut within nine miles of the coast and 

 three of the banks of a river is wise, but there are excep- 

 tional tracts ; and the granting of these should be left to 

 the discretion of the collector. I may observe that it is 

 more important to reserve on the banks of a river than on 

 the sea shore, where trees do not thrive, and are chiefly 

 valuable for firewood. 



