1ST THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. 45 



tion in stopping this illegal traffic, and I am happy to say steps 

 have been taken which have nearly put an end to it. Mr 

 Grant suggests that the most effectual way to stop the practice 

 will be to grow the tree in Malabar. This will be tried ; but 

 there is reason to doubt whether the aroma, for which it is valued, 

 will be produced in that climate. 



29. Babul Preserves. — I have suggested that this most useful 

 tree (Acacia arabica) should be conserved along the banks of the 

 Tumbhadra, both in the Bellary district and in the Nuggur divi- 

 sion of Mysore. The babul springs up in the alluvial soil on 

 both banks, in similar ground to the shikargahs of Scinde ; and 

 if three trees be planted when one is cut, there will be an in- 

 creased supply of useful material in a few years. The pods 

 and tender twigs form a favourite food of sheep in the hot 

 weather. 



30. Munjit.* — Samples of this dye-root have been sent to Cal- 

 cutta and England for experimental trial and report. The pro- 

 duct is abundant upon the slopes of the Nilgiris ; and if it could 

 be prepared for export so as to be packed in small compass, a 

 trade would probably spring up. There appears to be very little 

 difference between the Mlgiri and Punjab article. 



31. Firewood. — There is no doubt that this necessary of life is 

 more scarce than formerly, and more expensive near all large 

 towns, owing to the greater distance from which it is brought, 

 and the unrestricted license with which it is cut. Zamindars 

 have increased their tax on wood, owing to the great demand for 

 railways and other public works ; whilst Government, in a liberal 

 spirit, have left the fuel of a district untaxed, unless special 

 reasons can be shown. Eules for the cutting of Striharicotta and 

 other firewood jungles have been laid down,f and the subject is 

 receiving much attention generally from revenue officers. 



32. Charcoal. — Native iron-smelters employ fuel from one to 

 three inches in diameter ; and, to procure this, they take saplings, 

 or the tops and branches of the largest hardwood trees, allowing 

 the trunks to decay. Large trees are not adapted for fuel for 

 smelting, as the cost of splitting them adds greatly to the ex- 



* Subia cordifolia, L. 



t Ext. Min. Cons., 4th June 1859, No. 744, Rev. Dep. 



