APRIL — JUNEj 1857.] over the Annamullay Mountains. 95 
ed to the economizing of teak, that a regulation of Government for- 
bids the cutting of trees under a certain girth, I feel sure that I am 
not writing uselessly in calling attention to this reckless waste. 
I passed through no other fine teak forests belonging to the Bri- 
tish Circar,but if I am correctly informed, this belt extends to the 
eastward, and the valu§ of the timber within the Company's terri- 
tory is immense. If such is the case, not one tree of teak should be 
cut, till some European officer of intelligence has carefully examin- 
ed the extent and position of these most precious forests, and the 
best means are* suggested for working them. But whoever under- 
takes this will have to give his undivided attention to the work for 
many months, as at present the hills are quite unknown except to 
the wild people who inhabit them ; and the smugglers, and Mop- 
lah wood cutters, who want no change in the forest management. 
Should the Company's forests be as valuable as I am told they 
are, they deserve immediate attention. The timber of the Anna- 
muUays, is evidently at its full growth, and loss of time in cutting 
will cause a clear loss of money. I would therefore recommend 
some suitable person being sent to the hills with instructions to 
enquire into the best means of cutting and transporting the timber, 
the most advantageous size for moving it with reference to the ex- 
pense of carriage when compared with its liability to injury if re- 
duced to too small dimensions, and also what extent of forest there 
is, that an estimate may be formed of the capital it would be advisa- 
ble to sink for opening roads, erecting saw mills, &c. &c. 6cc. 
With regard to the best means of removing timber, I am of 
opinion that such a road might be opened through the Annamul- 
lay hills, as would admit of very heavy timber being taken through 
them on wheel carriages. The streams which all flow to the west- 
ward could be turned to account for its conveyance, when the fall 
is not too rapid, and if it was found advisable to use machinery for 
sawing the same streams would afford the power for working it. 
To work these forests with inefficient means, or let them to per- 
sons with small capital and no scientific knowledge, on terms which 
make the value of the timber wasted no consideration, is a sacrifice 
