East Indian Colonies. 373 



OTHER BRITISH POSSESSIONS AND COLONIES. 



Under the influence of the Indian forest service, or 

 stimulated by its success, some of the other British 

 Colonial governments in Africa and Australia have 

 attempted and sometimes succeeded in establishing a 

 forest policy. 



Of East Indian territories Ceylon, the nearest 

 neighbor to India, with over 25,000 square miles, of 

 which 42 percent wooded, mostly with second growth 

 forest of small value, attempted long ago an organi- 

 zation with the aid of Indian foresters, but by 1900 had 

 of over 10,000 square miles only 431 in reserves, in 

 addition to nearly 1800 acres planted. One Conserva- 

 tor and 8 Assistant Conservators produce a net revenue 

 of less than $30,000, there being an import of $250,000 

 necessary to eke out the wood requirements of the 3.5 

 million people. 



The Straits Settlement, an area of 1526 square miles, 

 had by 1900 a reserved state forest area of 138 square 

 miles under an experienced Indian forest officer. 

 Gutta percha, rubber and gums are here the most 

 valuable products. 



The Federated Malay States, with 26,350 square 

 miles, and heavily wooded, after a report by the Indian 

 Inspector General, have begun to reserve forest areas, 

 some 100,000 acres having been set aside, which are 

 administered by the Conservator of the Strait Settle- 

 ment's reserves. 



The government of the island of Cyprus also employs 

 a forest officer and guards to look after its 700 square 

 miles of forest. 



