MUDUMALAI FOREST. Ill 



Tippukadu to Kariir Hill. A road has been made 13 miles long, 

 ■with branch roads to Goganalla, Nardi, and other parallel val- 

 leys ; in all, 21 miles in length. The road near the Karkhana 

 passes over the bund of a tank with two calingulas bridged. The 

 formation of this tank was of great benefit, securing a supply of 

 good water in the hot weather to the people and cattle of the 

 establishment. The bund makes a good road where formerly an 

 impassable swamp existed, which cut off all communication with 

 the best parts of the forest. 



Kurumbars. — The number of kurumbars has increased. When 

 I commenced felling in the forest, there were eight men ; there 

 are now 110 men steadily at work. 



Sawyers. — Fever and death have terribly thinned the sawyers. 

 There are now five sets ; there should be at least ten ; conse- 

 quently there are many logs which cannot possibly be moved 

 until they are sawn. 



Elephants. — The elephants now working in the forest are five 

 in number. "We had six, but one died in August, owing to the 

 severity of the monsoon ; and the others were so affected by the 

 weather that it became necessary to send them to Ghindalpet 

 for a time. 



Buffaloes. — I have increased the number of buffaloes to 25 

 pairs, and by feeding them on grain in the hot weather, they are 

 in good condition. The buffaloes are only available for small 

 logs ; the sides of the hills, where the teak is felled, are very 

 steep, and any log over 16 cubic feet requires elephant power. 



Timber Carts. — I have now in the forest ten large carts, 

 capable of carrying beams of 30 cubic feet slung under the axle ; 

 these sling carts have been found very useful. There are also 24 

 small carts for working in the forest, with 20 pairs of bullocks 

 and 20 drivers. Our carts are employed in bringing beams from 

 the out-stations to the Karkhana and to the main road near 

 Tippukadu, where depots are formed. In the monsoon weather, 

 when the forest roads are impassable, contractors' carts carry the 

 timber from the depot at Tippukadu to Utakamand. I have 

 found it very advantageous to employ the forest bullocks, these 

 people being apt to overlook the important matter of feeding 

 cattle entrusted to their care. 



