IN THE MADKAS PRESIDENCY. 93 



forests, and extend their surveillance to the growing trees ; but 

 it seems only reasonable that when the timber has been felled, 

 marked, and taken out of the forests, the Mofussil police should 

 restrain theft, and that they Bhould report any transgression of 

 the forest rules coming within their knowledge, in the same way 

 as they would warn a householder of the insecurity of his premises, 

 or the vicinity of robbers, and so forth. It is only this general 

 care that I seek ; and if it be not extended to Government timber 

 as to other property, public and private, the necessary result must 

 he a considerable increase to my watching establishments. 



40. Forest Assistants. — I have reason to be satisfied with the 

 exertions of my assistants. During my absence, Lieut. Beddome 

 has been nominated* to act for me, and Capt. Brine, who con- 

 ducted the operations in the Paumbem channel, succeeds to the 

 charge of the Anamalai range. In a separate letter, I have re- 

 commended that the valuable teak forest on the confines of 

 Wainad should be placed under Capt. Gib ; and I hope that this 

 arrangement will take place immediately. The range will extend 

 from the border of Coorg to Gundelpett. One great want of the 

 department is, an additional assistant, who, while learning his 

 duty, could afford useful aid, and afterwards be competent to fill 

 any unexpected vacancy (such as those which have occurred this 

 year). Two hundred rupees staff salary would be sufficient. The 

 advantage of a trained assistant on emergency is self-evident. 



41. Overseers. — There is still great difficulty in obtaining the 

 services of robust men, possessing all the requisite qualifications 

 indicated in previous reports. If the sanctioned amount allowed 

 for the department had not been expended, I would have recom- 

 mended the location of overseers at Karnul, Kotagiri, &c. 



42. Exploring Tours. — During the past three years, annual 

 tours of about nine months' duration have been made, during 

 which a very large portion of the presidency has been traversed, 

 and all the more important forests have been to some extent ex- 

 plored. Considerable additions have been made to our knowledge 

 of the interesting and important region of the Anamalais and 

 confines of Travancore, by a second exploring tour of Lieut. 



* G. 0., 17th August 1860. 



