55 
T do not, however, anticipate any serious reduction of revenue, 
‘for, from other causes, the total amount which has been collected 
for five months is not below that estimated. 
-~ 4, I, moreover, entertain hopes that the present visit, for the first 
time in history, of kings and chiefs of the Hi nterland, with their 
numerous followers, will be of the greatest benefit to ‘the Colony, 
and be the means of securing a marked increase of trade with the 
interior, 
5. It is important, however, to take steps Wolo will protect thè 
forests from being ruthlessly destroyed, and which will allow 
young rubber trees Mean us before EM A tapped by irrespon- 
t à 
* ae $% 5 E 
e also to organize some system by whi ch the native 
chiefs will exercise more control over the collectors, Es this I 
can scarcely do until [ visit the country myself, and see what 
promises to be the best means of securing permanence of supply. 
8. In the meanwhile, I have thought it desirable to give you 
some idea as to how the question stands, for you will probably, 
have its importance representel to you by the merchants 
Liverpool and Manchester, who will suffer from the falling. off in 
the supply of rubber which has taken place during the current, 
year. 
"o 
Eh 
9. Had the collection been entrusted to the chiefs of -Yoruba 
and their men, it is probable that our controlling influence would 
f de 
have checked the destruction whic aken place, but Fantees 
Gold Coast have not had permanency of supply in their 
minds when they have destroyed trees in all directions, and 
imperilled the constant supply of a material for which there is 
now go much demand. 
( (Miphed) huoc UE 
. Gov 
The zs em Honourable ^ Virga t HE 
seph Chasiiberlülzi MP; ; : 
Secretary of. State for the Colonies. 
i ; ['Enclosure.] 
SIR, Ife, May 25th, 1897 
WE beg "uis ipd to report to you our work and progress 
since we left Ibadan 
We shou ld state that Gm SE is we od an sy eee 
with His Excellency the Acting Governor 
In this interview we informed His ates of the ruined 
state and condition of the Jebu and Ibadan forests which we had. 
then just visited ; and also conveyed | to him the information We 
had gathered from those interested in the industry to the effect. 
there was no rubber forest in the neighbourhood of these two. 
countries that has not been spoiled by overworking, At ai ce ef 
