IN THE MADEAS PKESIDENCY. 15 



iron-smelting. The forges in Canara are few, but there are 

 many in Dharwar, Belgam, Bellary, and Mysore; and parties 

 go into Nuggur or North Canara to make charcoal in large quan- 

 tity. They make a hole 4 feet deep, 8 or 10 feet broad, fill it 

 with wood, and cover it up. Having set fire to it, two-thirds or 

 three-fourths is burnt, one-third or one-fourth remains as char- 

 coal. Not only is there great waste in the making of charcoal, 

 but there is great waste when made, the charcoal being inferior. 

 The blacksmiths insist upon the wood being either of bamboo or 

 jambay (Inga xylocarpd), which is without reason, as I saw 

 beautiful charcoal prepared by Mr Lowry at Tuddry of the com- 

 mon woods. Brice and Co. have instructed twenty charcoal- 

 burners, who use these woods, and turn out a superior article. 

 They regulate the furnace by small holes, as do the Porto Novo 

 Iron Company ; Dr Forbes also, at the cotton-gin factory in Dhar- 

 war. It is difficult to instruct native artisans in this matter, but 

 it is hoped that the example of so many Europeans may be useful. 



30. Executive Engineers, Surveyors, &c. — These officers, when 

 making traces in the ghats, or visiting secluded forest districts; 

 might render good service to this department by informing the 

 nearest revenue-officer or conservancy employe when they see 

 the firing of the jungles or destruction of timber. I have re- 

 ceived, on several occasions, useful information from the chief 

 engineer, who has sent me extracts from the diaries of his offi- 

 cers bearing on the destruction of timber. On the occasion of 

 making a new road, or increasing the breadth of an old one, 

 through a valuable forest (as at Yellapur), it would be desirable 

 that the district engineer should communicate with the forest 

 assistant, so as to give an opportunity of removing the timber, 

 which is often rolled down the side of a ghat, or left to decay 

 where it falls. 



31. Noxious Insects. — I have called the attention of my assist- 

 ants to the noxious insects of this country, inasmuch as the de- 

 predation of several common Coleoptera (Xylocopa latipes, &c.) are 

 most mischievous, rendering the rafters a mere honeycomb. I 

 have had under consideration the importance of immersing the 

 logs of all woods, except teak, in solutions strongly impregnated 

 with mineral salts, according to Boucherie's process. 



