24 FIRST REPORT ON FOREST OPERATIONS 



nany, ascending and descending by the mountain passes. I 

 afterwards went across the Anamalai Hills and round the slopes 

 of the Nilgiris ; I also made a circuit of the Wynad, and 

 twice visited the Conolly Plantations at Nellambur. being alto- 

 gether eight months absent from the Presidency." 



2. The report has been perused by the Government with much 

 interest. It is unnecessary to review the whole in detail ; the 

 points which require special notice are particularised below. 



3. After noticing the extensive and often wanton havoc and 

 devastation caused by the axe of the coffee planter and the 

 kumari cultivator, Dr Cleghorn states that the profuse waste has 

 been altogether prohibited in the Mysore and Bombay collec- 

 torates, and is checked to a great extent in Canara, " but has not 

 altogether ceased, though the exertions of the collector and sub- 

 collector have been successful in keeping under the destruction 

 caused by vagabond tribes in burning wood, with a view to 

 raising from the ashes a crop of inferior grain." The Govern- 

 ment resolve to communicate paragraph 3 to the collector of 

 Canara, through the Board of Bevenue, and that officer will be 

 good enough to furnish a brief report of the result of his exer- 

 tions for the repression of the system of kumari cultivation. 

 The conservancy system in Canara is stated to be in advance of 

 every other district, though still imperfect. A set of forest rules 

 are said to have been framed, which are calculated to ensure a 

 regulated and safe expenditure, provided the subordinates do 

 their duty. The Government will be glad to see a copy of these 

 rules. 



'4. Par. 5. The requirements of the various departments 

 (Indian Navy, Madras Eailway, Bombay Bailway, Department P. 

 W., Telegraph Department) have been unusually heavy ; and 

 owing to the withdrawal of the employes and material of the 

 Forest Department, on account of the mutinies, the latter has 

 scarcely been able to meet the demands made upon it, so that 

 the operations of the past year do not afford a fair criterion of 

 the prospective effectiveness of the Forest Department. 



5. Par. 6. Speaking of the marvellous changes in the face 

 of the country as regards tree vegetation, produced by the pro- 

 gress of the railway, it is mentioned that a traveller looking 



