“SARTAGE” IN INDIA, 77 
Some ten or twelve years later, towards the -close of 
1858, Mr Beaumont, manager of the Beypur Iron Works, 
-ealled the attention of 'the authorities to the loss to 
Government, by the practice then prevailing extensively 
in Malabar, ‘of cutting down maiden forests by the 
Malai-Karen and native landowners for the purpose of 
cultivation. ‘The grains usually planted, says he, ‘are 
paddy (rice), shama (millet), and tomara. For the two 
last Government receive no tax. For the first (paddy), 
which is principally sown, it is true. that the circar 
receives the usual nigady, but, for the following reasons, 
this affords to the country an inadequate return for the 
destruction of forests, which, in later years, would prove of 
immense value. The tract of land denuded of forest can, 
from the want of irrigation, only be cultivated profitably 
once in five,.or sometimes in tuapty years. Thus does the 
country receive but one year’s tax out of, say nine, upon 
ground so.cleared. It will, upon the other jhand, readily 
be perceived that these wholesale depredators, being 
unable to cultivate the same land except during one year, 
will remove to another locality where maiden jungle 
stands, and there resume the work of devastation. It is 
unnecessary for me to enumeraite, to one.so well acquainted 
with the district, the mumberless tracts of magnificent 
forest which, during my short residence in Malabar I have 
seen swept from existence by the process; but I cannot 
refraim, whilst one opportunity offers, of recording my 
‘decided opinion that unless Government take some step 
to check this system of wanton destruction, in a very few 
years the chief portion of these magnificent forests will 
present little but a barren waste, studded with thefinesttrees 
which can adorn or fertilise the district in which they stand.’ 
Under date of 7th December 1858, Dr Cleghom, 'Con- 
servator of Forests under the Madras Government, reported 
as follows :— 
‘In EMC., 28th July 1857, I was directed to write: 
a full report upon this: wasteful system. I have paid 
