April — june, 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 value 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- 

 mullays, 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, kc. kc. kc. 



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 



