26 BALL : GEOLOGY OF AURUN6A AND HUTAU COAL FIELDS. 



principal are from Daltonganj to Ranclii, and from the same place to 

 Dehree on the Sone. But few of the others are practicable for carts, 

 and the remainder can only b6 used by pack cattle and elephants. 



Except in Burkhol, I did not anywhere see any indigenous wheeled 

 vehicles ; these too were of the rudest description. Carts find their way 

 along the two above-mentioned roads into Daltonganj ; and recently 

 timber has been drawn in carts from Sirguja over a track where carts 

 never passed before. Judging from what I saw, I should say the average 

 rate of progression of these carts was under three miles a day. 



The export trade in grain is wholly carried on by means of pack 



Export trade by pack hullocks, which are mostly of a small and weakly 



*'^**^®" breed. The Oraons alone of all the tribes can be 



induced to carry banghies, the Kherwars and others carrying but half 



loads on their heads. 



Section 8. — Forests and Wild Animals. 



The forests of Palamow do not, I believe, contain much valuable 

 timber at present, but the strict conservancy which has been initiated in 

 parts of Bari, Durjag, Barasand, Sima, &c., promises a supply in the future. 



Sal timber is by no means generally distributed. I often searched 

 in vain for single examples in mixed jungle. In other places the soil 

 does not seem to be well suited to its free development. However, 

 it is possible that it may be larger and more plentiful in parts of the 

 hills unvisited by me. Most excellent sal timber is now being cut in a 

 neighbouring tract of Sirguja. 



Teak, as is the case, to the best of my belief, throughout the Chutia 

 Nagpur Division, does not occur. 



The Forest Department, having been for several years in possession 

 of the Palamow forests, will no doubt be able to state how far a trade 

 in timber is likely to aid the traffic on the proposed line of branch 

 railway. The ordinary jungle products, such as lac, kath or catechu, 

 fibres, &c., need not be described here. 

 ( 36 ) 



