302 FOREST LIFE AND SPORT IN INDIA 
immediate effect on the forests in diminishing the 
demand for such produce as is locally consumed, 
and in reducing the amount of labour available 
for the extraction of timber and other products for 
export. It is no doubt sad for a Government to 
contemplate an area of several thousands of square 
miles under forest, especially if it is considered that 
a part of it might preferably be occupied by happy 
homesteads surrounded by flourishing fields ; but, if 
there is still room for such homesteads in areas 
where ‘the initial labour of preparing the land 
for permanent cultivation has already been supplied, 
the sole remedy is to wait till a larger population 
shall increase the demand for arable land beyond 
that which is already available. 
To convert large forests into fruitful fields, a 
regular plan of campaign must be devised and 
followed. It is useless to encourage the settlement 
of small isolated villages which are unable to clear 
more than trivial areas of jungle in their immediate 
vicinity ; for small communities have not the strength 
to fight against the disadvantages of the forest, and 
ultimately succumb to the inroads of vegetation, of 
wild beasts, and of sickness. Large forest areas must 
therefore be attacked from the outside in a regular 
sequence of operations, on the principle of sending 
column after column of invaders to the assault; and 
so though at present there is no demand for Kanara 
forest land, yet with returning prosperity and 
increase of population the land will be ready, when 
the time arrives, to yield very considerable areas for 
cultivation, and the Government of Bombay may be 
pleased to feel that they have at their disposal the 
