THE 



FOKESTS OF SOUTH INDIA. 



FIKST ANNUAL EEPOET ON FOEEST OPEBATIONS 

 IN THE MADEAS PEESIDENCT. 



From H. Cleghorn, Esq., M.D., Conservator of Forests, to the 

 Secretary to Government, Fort St George. 



Mangalobe, 1st May 1858. 

 Sir, — 1. I have the honour to report, for the information of 

 the Eight Honourable the Governor in Council, that during the 

 past year I proceeded on my first tour of inspection, traversed 

 Mysore, and visited the depots at the mouths of nearly all the 

 rivers on the Malabar coast, examining- great part of the Western 

 Ghats, with a view to ascertain the exact state of the govern- 

 ment forests, their extent and capabilities. I travelled through 

 the most wooded portions along the chain of ghats, ascending 

 and descending by the following mountain passes, Anisy, Ar- 

 byle, Bun, Sampajee, Perambady, Sispara, Tambacherry, Pal- 

 ghat, Sigur, Kunur, from the Bombay frontier down to Ponany. 

 I afterwards went across the Anamalai Hills and round the slopes 

 of the Nilgiri Hills. I also made a circuit of Wainad, and twice 

 visited the Conolly plantations at Nellambur, being altogether 

 eight months absent from the presidency. 



2. As I have already submitted my views at length on several 

 topics in accordance with the instructions of government, such 

 as Jackatalla Plantations, Nilgiri Woods, Utakamand Garden, 

 Anamalai Forests, Canara Forests, Striharicotta Jungles, price 

 of timber, memorandum on gutta percha, I shall here confine 



