IN THE MADKAS PRESIDENCY. 75 



cation with him. Mr Fraser the collector's report on forest 

 revenue is in App. B. The suggestion made in par. 3, regarding 

 the supply of fuel to sandal stills, met with my entire concur- 

 rence, and the system has been altered. These oil merchants 

 now stand on the same footing as the other people. A large 

 contract has been entered into for the supply of Mangalore with 

 wood from Sulia. It will probably be necessary to strengthen 

 Mr Thompson's hands, by granting him a small permanent estab- 

 lishment. 



18. Anamalai Range. — Lieut. Beddome's report of the work- 

 ing of this fine reserved forest forms App. C. The first point 

 specially calling for remark is the unusually large income; which, 

 as explained in my last year's Eeport (par. 14), arises from 

 the value of timber sold in 1858-59 being included. along with 

 that of 1859-60. , It will be observed, that the wood sold to 

 the Bombay Government for naval purposes is much smaller 

 in 1859-60 than in 1858-59. Again, the timber sold to the 

 agents of the Madras and Great Southern of India Bailway Cos. 

 is much, larger than in previous years. The trees felled compre- 

 hended various kinds of the better indigenous trees, as well as 

 teak and blackwood. Owing to the extreme difficulty of obtain- 

 ing axemen and sawyers, all available hands being engaged at 

 remunerative rates by the Railway Co., there was much less 

 timber felled than usual. The attention of the establishment 

 was directed to the removal of old outlying timber seattered 

 about in the forests. The dragging of this to the* slip by ele- 

 phants was an important work, and has much reduced the list of 

 " wood unaccounted fori" After careful inquiry, the rate of cart 

 hire above, ghat has been increased 20 per cent. ; this was un- 

 avoidable. The Malsar farm was abolished (Gr. 0., 4th Nov. 1859, 

 No. 1500) ; and the wild denizens of the forest are now under 

 instruction in sawing and carpentry. v They are not yet skilled 

 workmen, but they are improving, and their labour is of immense 

 value to us ; being indigenous, they enjoy comparative immu- 

 nity from the diseases incident to casual residents in that trying 



* The formation of a ghat in lien of the rude timber slip (Plate III.) 

 has been entered in the budget, and will greatly facilitate the operations 

 of the department. 



