SIGUR FOREST. 109 



APPENDIX (D). 



SIGUR £ OEBST. 



In May 1859, a sanction of Es. 50 per month was granted by 

 Government for the conservation and working of Sigur Forest. 

 (Q-. 0., No. 668). With this sum, amounting to Es. 450 (in 

 nine months), and the sale of timber and sandal-wood, the fol- 

 lowing results have been obtained. Es.1000 have been remitted 

 to the accountant-general, Es, 100-10-11 is the balance of cash in 

 hand, and the timber on the ground may be valued at Es. 4000. 

 With so small a sum as Es. 50 to commence with, it was some 

 time before any wood could be collected. By an early sale of 

 sandal wood, the means for working the forest on a larger scale 

 were obtained ; and next year, if wood be carted to Utakamand, 

 I have no doubt hut that a sale of Es. 10,000 worth might be 

 effected. 



Carriage of Timber. — At present, the great drawback is the 

 carriage of the timber. Parties who purchase timber from the 

 dep6t at Masnikovil find themselves without the means of con- 

 veying it away ; consequently, the number of purchasers is very 

 limited ; the sales of teak and veng§ for eight months only 

 realizing Es. 457-1-6. 



Timber Felling. — The operations in the forest have been chiefly 

 confined to the felling of ripe teak trees and veng§.* The trees 

 are felled in November, December, and January, when the tree 

 is wintering; during the rising of the sap in March, April, May, 

 and June, the hwrumbars^ square the felled trees. During the 

 remaining five months, the men are employed in felling the trees 

 after the fall of the moon, when the sap descends, and when the 

 sap is ascending, they square the felled logs. By this order the 

 timber seasons well and readily. There are but fifteen kurum- 

 bars and five pairs of buffaloes working in the forest at present. 

 If the sale of timber be increased, I propose to enlarge the 

 establishment. 



Steam Saw-Mill. — The works at Wellington Barracks being 

 nearly finished, I strongly recommend that the steam saw-mill 



* Pterocarpus marsupium, L. t A wild forest trite. 



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