306 FOREST LIFE AND SPORT IN INDIA 
Revenue officer was glad to be allowed to stick to 
his last, and permitted the forester to do the same 
—there were to be found the best progress in forestry 
and the most contentment in its regard amongst 
the population. The impasse that State forestry 
was approaching on one side of the Peninsula, and 
its success on the other, afforded striking examples 
of the results of the two methods. On the one side, 
the Senior Conservator was a member of the Pro- 
vincial Council, and was consulted by the Govern- 
ment in all forest matters; on the other, the forest 
administration was carried out by a member of the 
Board of Revenue, who, even if he possessed tran- 
scendeut ability and was at the same time eaten up 
with zeal for silviculture, yet had not the time 
either to inspect his forests or to become acquainted 
with his staff. 
The subject of the respective merits of exotic and 
indigenous Governors is not one that may be lightly 
approached by a layman, nor, now that both are to 
govern with the aid of an official minority, is there 
much interest in doing so; and the most that can 
be said is that, on the face of it, it would appear 
that an officer who possessed experience acquired in 
another part of the Empire, and was furnished with 
the best advice on local matters, would be in a better 
position than another who only had the latter of 
these advantages. For the rest, success must 
depend to a great extent on good fortune in 
selection. On the one hand, too much attention may 
be paid to the claims of seniority in the Indian 
Civil Service ; on the other, party considerations at 
home may influence the choice. In any case, a man 
