436 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTEAL INDIA. 



is forgotten that the reproduction of an exhausted timber forest 

 is the work, not of a few years, or even of a generation of 

 men, but of a generation of trees that is, a period ranging 

 from fifty to a hundred years. And it is the supreme ad- 

 vantage of the forests of a country remaining, as here, in 

 the hands of its Government, that it alone is, or should be, 

 superior to the desire of immediate personal gain, which has 

 generally led to the improvident conversion into money of the 

 standing forests of private owners. England alone of coun- 

 tries where the forests had passed into private hands escaped 

 such a catastrophe as the near extinction of her forests, by 

 means of her system of entail, which unites several genera- 

 tions in a joint guardianship of landed properties. It may 

 be added that in the Central Provinces the forests have even 

 now more than returned in revenue the outlay upon them, 

 while their prospective value to future generations, both as a 

 source of supply for the country's wants, and in mere money, 

 is wholly beyond estimation. 



My narrative is now done, having carried the reader over 

 every portion of these Central Highlands, and even taken a 

 step with him below their eastern termination. In the course 

 of our rambles he has made the acquaintance of every wild 

 animal he is likely to meet with in the forests ; and it only 

 remains for me to offer a few hints to the traveller or sports- 

 man who may contemplate an excursion in these regions. 

 Few men would probably come to India merely to shoot over 

 this central wilderness. But as a field for general travel, 

 and even as a sporting ground, India is rapidly coming into 

 favour among the wandering section of Englishmen. I need 

 not dilate on the general interest of the country. It may be 

 hoped that most Englishmen will benefit as much from a tour 

 through this greatest of our dependencies, as India herself will 



