2.0 FIRST REPORT ON FOREST OPERATIONS 



rate of 1 rupee per tree, and on exportation a further seignor- 

 age of 8 annas per tree : also, such quantity of bamboos as 

 they may require to float down the 2500 trees, at the rate of 

 5 rupees per 1000 bamboos. This contract extends over a period 

 of two years, closing 31st December 1859. In the contracts with 

 Mr Boss and Messrs Brice and Co., strict provisions are made 

 prohibiting the felling of valuable kinds of wood, as teak, black-' 

 wood, &c. 



40. Establishment of Depots on Western Coast.— -J am desirous of 

 having well-arranged depots at the mouths of the rivers on the 

 western coast, and. a classification of timber to suit the various 

 purchasers. European pensioners of reputed integrity will pro- 

 bably be found ready to take charge of these depots. Con- 

 tractors have this year been required to separate sound from 

 unsound timber, whilst still in the water. I pointed out at 

 Sidashegur and Hallial some desirable improvements ; but the 

 operations were suspended on account of the recent disturbances. 

 At the latter place the depot occupies an open space, and the 

 large quantity of wood in store is scarcely safe without an 

 enclosure. A small house for the European overseer is also 

 required. The establishment of coast depots involves an exten- 

 sion of the department not contemplated ; but I believe that 

 from the absolute impossibility of finding a trustworthy agency 

 ill the interior, this is unavoidable. 



41. Additional Overseers required. — There are several localities, 

 as Putur in South Canara, Palghat, and the hills west of Vel- 

 lore, which require the supervision of a qualified overseer. I am 

 now en route to explore the capabilities of the first of these places, 

 which formerly yielded much timber. At the second, I believe 

 the salary of an overseer may be more than met from the aggre- 

 gate receipts of the "Waliar Jungle, and the escheated forest of 

 Chennat Nair, at present leased to Mr Tomlinson. At the third, 

 which I visited a fortnight ago, it is of importance that super- 

 vision should be exercised over these hills, which the proximity 

 of the railway has tended so much to denude. The demand for 

 firewood has been so much enhanced by the vicinity of the rail 

 that I have seen root stocks and gnarled stems removed from 

 the hill side, which should have been allowed to remain, in order 



