BOMBAY 301 
Deccan, and the evergreen forests of Kanara, with 
many varying types distributed between these 
extremes, as well there may be when 15,000 square 
miles, or 12 per cent. of the area of the Province, is 
concerned. But there was little time afforded for 
silviculture—indeed, none to spare from an examina- 
tion of the methods of exploitation and of the supply 
of produce to the villagers, the two subjects which 
were responsible for the large staff that was main- 
tained. In Bombay the forests are maintained for 
the use of the people, but those who live near them 
are they who reap the direct benefits therefrom, and 
who are held to be to some extent responsible for 
their welfare ; and in result the forests are not dis- 
appearing, but improving—though, as regards the 
yield of the larger portion of the area, this is 
naturally not in large timber, but in the small stuff 
that the Indian agriculturist uses. For large timber 
the 4,000 square miles of the Kanara forests are 
available, and these present a pleasant change from 
the dry rocks characteristic of the Deccan, though 
even the latter fascinate by the weird forms and 
colours assumed in the evening glow or during the 
short twilight. 
It will be remembered that the Province of 
Bombay has been during many years subjected to 
the stress of plague and scarcity, from which re- 
covery can be but slow; also that the industrial 
development of the country has drawn many of the 
able-bodied of both sexes to the towns, so that 
at the present time there is little pressure on the 
land, and no necessity to settle on the less profitable 
or less fertile areas. Such conditions have an 
