THE NERBUDDA 289 



miles are forest. There are large tracts which have been 

 taken up by the Forest Department as Government 

 reserves (classified A, Bi, and B2). Other portions, 

 where the forest is of a less promising character, are con- 

 sidered as open, unclassified forests, where it would not 

 pay to exclude the fires. Here are the grazing grounds 

 of great herds of cattle and buffalo, which are usually sent 

 out to graze in the dry season, when fodder and grass are 

 exhausted in the open village lands. The forests being 

 Government property, a revenue is collected by the sale 

 of permits for grazing, also on gums and other minor pro- 

 duce. There is a staff of forest watchers employed to 

 guard the passes and collect the dues. The reserved 

 forests are in the best portions, protected from fire by 

 broad Unes cleared of grass all round their area. It is 

 considered that, as the expense of replanting is too great, 

 it is better to rely on the natural reproduction from seed 

 and old stools, which is always going on slowly provided 

 the fire can be excluded. The difficulty of preventing 

 fire from crossing these protecting lines is considerable 

 during the very dry months of April and May, when the 

 hot winds blow and the smallest spark will cause a great 

 conflagration ; but it has been generally successfully 

 done, though sometimes fires occur. The jamadars in 

 charge of the reserves, and their staffs, are rewarded 

 according to the success of their exertions. When the 

 rains come, then the danger of fire is past. The cattle 

 are driven away to their villages, and the jungle is left 

 to the wild beasts. The highest point of these hiUs is 

 a fine rocky summit, called Mahadeo, as it is sacred to 

 that primitive deity, the author of existence, represented 

 always by the phallus. 



There is a place of pilgrimage in a cave, where great 

 numbers of seekers after the favour of the ' Great God ' 



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