INTRODUCTION 15 
of Nature, and at the same time succeed in keeping 
his health, he has the certainty of contentment, so 
far as that can be secured by constant occupation, 
for he will never have an idle hour. 
He need not, however, always remain with none 
but executive duties ; he may look forward to rising 
to administrative rank. The constitution of the 
Indian Forest Department comprises three great 
branches: first, the Imperial Service, recruited in 
England, consisting of an Inspector-General of 
Forests at the headquarters of the Government of 
India, of two Chief Conservators in charge of the 
extensive forests in Burma and the Central Prov- 
inces, and of fourteen Conservators in charge of 
Circles, and below these, again, Deputy and Assis- 
tant Conservators in charge of districts ; next, the 
Provincial Service, whose members are statutory 
natives recruited in India, comprising Extra-Deputy 
and Extra-Assistant Conservators, who are either in 
charge of or attached to districts ; and, lastly, the 
Subordinate Service, which consists of Rangers, 
Foresters, and Forest Guards, in order of rank, and 
of clerks and others, such as messengers, treasure- 
guards, or orderlies. The strength of the Imperial 
and Provincial Services is about 200 officers in each 
branch, and that of the Subordinate Service about 
15,000 or 16,000 men. The Conservator is an 
administrating officer who has territorial charge, 
and who, under the orders of the Provincial Govern- 
ment, conducts the forest policy of a province; the 
Inspector- General is an advising officer, who is 
consulted by the Supreme Government in all forest 
questions that come before it. 
