88 THIRD REPORT ON FOREST OPERATIONS 



economy in the preparation of charcoal ; as it is, the native 

 workers have recourse in its manufacture to measures which are 

 at once rude and extravagant.* In various parts of the country- 

 there are slight differences in the mode of preparation ; but all 

 are faulty and objectionable in an economical point of view. 

 The branches selected for charring are generally those of large, 

 valuable hard-wood trees, which are left to decay. Teak, black- 

 wood, and erul, being always preferred when there is a choice ; 

 the charcoal-burners, however, are strictly prohibited from ap- 

 propriating timber of this description, and are only permitted to 

 use the branches when the trees have been felled' for another 

 purpose. Various trees, however, are preferred, depending on 

 the purposes to which the charcoal is to be applied.f Measures 

 have been adopted towards the instruction of some of the hill 

 tribes in the art of economical burning, the principal error being 

 in allowing the process J to be performed in the open air instead 

 of in closed kilns. Charcoal is an article of considerable con- 

 sumption in the towns, especially at Utakamand, and the cer- 

 tainty of a future supply is attended with some anxiety. It has 

 been proposed to levy a seignorage of one anna upon the piled 

 parah, and this seems reasonable. 



32. Bamboos. — The demand for the bamboo will always be 

 very great. Enormous quantities are brought to the presidency 

 by railway, so that the jungles close to the line are rapidly being 

 exhausted. It seems, therefore, advisable that some measures 

 be taken to regulate the cutting, as has lately been done in the 

 case of fuel. The propriety of this may be perceived by the fact, 

 that while in one district they disappear, in the adjoining col- 

 lectorate there is frequently a superabundant supply. Throughout 

 Canara, there is a uniform tax of 8 annas per hundred ; and I 

 am of opinion, that a similar impost might be made with ad- 



* Wall's Keport on the Silver and Lead Ores of Karnul, in G. 0., No 

 1040, 27th July 1858. 



t Bark charcoal, used by Dhobees. Gunpowder do., small shrubs or 

 herbs, as Vitex negundo and Cajanui Indian ; also Madar, Calotropis gigantea, 

 and rarkinsonia aculeata. Charcoal for iron foundries : for this large pieces 

 of hard wood are preferred, as those already mentioned. 



t Circular, No. 10 in App. explains the proper mode of manufacture. 



