apeil june 1857.] over the Annamullay Mountains. 93 



by stating, that I have no acquaintance with the working of Teak 

 forests, nor any knowledge as to the terms upon which this timber 

 has been purchased by those engaged in its removal ; and my re- 

 marks if they are of any value, can only be so by leading to an en- 

 quiry as to what are, and what ought to be, the means adopted for 

 saving to the utmost this most invaluable wood. 



The jungle in which this Teak is cut is the most magnificent 

 forest I have ever seen, in any country, for the straightness and 

 height of the trees, as well as for their enormous girth. Those 

 which have been felled vary in size from two feet in diameter to 

 four, five and even six. Their growth in general is more like the 

 American pine than the oak, as they have clear branchless stems 

 of great length and a spreading head. The underwood is now 

 burnt, as it is I believe each year, and every stem may be examin- 

 ed, as well as if it were lying in a timber yard. 



As I rode through the forest in a direct line to save time, and 

 avoid if possible another night in the hills without shelter I could 

 only judge of what was doing, by what happened to fall in my 

 way, but that was quite sufficient to show me, that five-sixths 

 at least of .this magnificent timber was totally lost. The order 

 given to the wood-cutters is to send down planks of the fol- 

 lowing dimensions ;* and the wood which is not suitable for cutting 

 to that measurement, is abandoned to be burnt with the under- 

 wood, in the next dry season. The people receiving these instruc- 

 tions seem to consider their work done well, when they procure in 

 a certain number of days, a certain number of planks, without the 

 slightest reference to the number of trees expended in procuring 

 them. They are furnished with axes only, and (whether by the 

 timber merchants' permission or not, I am unable to say,) they save 

 their labour with axe, as much as they are able by the use of fire. 

 In the hurried view I had of the work it appeared that the length 



* Ft. Ft. In. In. 



30 x 1 \ x 4| 



25 x 1 llf x 4| 



20 x 1 10* x 3| 



17 x 1 8f x 3* 



