434 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



of the beautiful little station, and its pleasant society, I soon 

 , got over my troubles. I was very much broken in health, 

 however, by constant exposure to the malaria of the jungles, 

 at all seasons of the year. I had never lost the remains 

 of the fever I had contracted the previous year ; and, I may 

 add, never did so till I had a trip to England in 1867. 

 I was therefore induced to leave the forest department 

 shortly afterwards, and go into a less physically laborious 

 line of civil work ; but only to return again in less than 

 a year to relieve for a time my friend Major Pearson, who 

 had also got completely knocked up by exposure. The 

 necessity for such exposure, consequent on having to explore 

 in a short time the large areas of forest comprised in the 

 province, is now over ; and work in that department is not 

 necessarily more unhealthy than any other ; while my readers 

 will be able to judge of the opportunities it affords for the 

 excitement of adventure and sport. 



I have no intention of attempting a treatise on Indian 

 forestry, for which, indeed, there are as yet few available 

 materials ; but a few remarks on the present aspect of the 

 question may not be out of place before concluding my work. 



The Government of India has within the last ten years 

 been fully awakened to the necessity of watching over the 

 important part of their trust which resides in the forest re- 

 gions. Even now it is doubtful whether the clearances already 

 effected have not seriously deteriorated the rainfall of the 

 country, as they certainly have much impaired the supply of 

 useful timber ; and the example of many countries, ancient 

 and modern,* is a warning against rash interference with the 

 life-giving forests of hilly regions where rivers are born, such 



* A pamphlet, admirable for learning and research, on this subject, by Dr. 

 Dalzeil, Conservator of Forests in Bombay, exhausts the subject. 



