9^ Journal of an Ezpeditio7i [no. 3, kew series, 
ago, and three years passed 'without any appearance of the fresh 
plants. This year I have not examined the ground, but from this 
man's account, and the size of the plants in this locality, I am in- 
clined to think, that the seed does not germinate for several years. 
About IJ miles north of the Yeddapara ^ve came upon the 
first glade we had seen since leaving Mallhtoor. This break in the 
jungle is covered with waving grass, and scattered trees, it is about 
J of a mile in the broadest part, and extends nearly a mile. The 
soil is moist, and it is trampled by elephants and bison in every 
direction ; a sounder of hogs crossed our path in this glade, the 
only game of any sort we had met with, except the solitary elephant 
at the Oracumbum river. As a general thing, the deep forests of 
the western coast give shelter to very few animals, and this the 
broadest belt of forest I have crossed, appears to have less than 
any; elephants seem to have almost sole possession of the Anna- 
mullays. Their tracks are to be seen every where, and though 
we saw so little of their recent traces, it is to be accounted for, by 
our path leading us along low ridges too dry for them, at this 
season, and not to their scarcity in the hills, for every single tree 
by the way side, which was of sujfficient strength to bear the pres- 
sure, was covered with the mud that had been rubbed from their 
backs during the monsoon when they can find water every where 
and wander where they will. 
The teak as we advanced, became the principal tree of the 
forest, and the growth is superb, far exceeding any thing now 
left in the district of Malabar. At half past 10 we came upon a 
strong party of men working for Mr. Gardiner and Gooroobucksing, 
two Palghat timber merchants, who, as I understand their workmen, 
are now cutting up and carrying away by permission of Govern- 
ment some teak which was felled here several years ago, when the 
jungle was supposed to belong to the Colungode Rajah, but which 
has since be^n claimed as British property. The facts of this case I 
am not acquainted with, and if I were, it is no concern of mine ; I 
cannot however, on the plea of its being out of my own division 
allow to pass unnoticed, the wasteful manner in which this most 
raluable forest is "Nvorked ; but I must preface what I have to say 
