99 
jU-J 
Penang. 
selves by spontaneous reproduction if only properly protected, 
but few will become valuable forest owing- to the preponderance 
of useless species among the growth mentioned, and they will 
therefore have to be assisted by artificial planting to some 
extent. 
102. I capnot end my remarks upon this Settlement without 
referring to those valuable products found in its forest, viz., 
Gah am and Malacca cane. Galiaru, which is also known as 
Gam de Malacca, Calnmbar, Aloe wood and Agallochmn, is the 
most valuable product of the Malacca forest, and is yielded by 
at least two distant species of trees, viz., Aquillaria Malaccen- 
sis and A. Agallocha. There is also a tree in Cocbiu China 
named Alcexylon Agallochum which yields a similar resinous 
aromatic wood, and which is believed to have been carried from 
Malacca to Cochin China, or, as some consider, from Cochin 
China to Malayan territory. Gaharu fetches in the market 
about f 188 per picul (138£lbs), which, according to the Straits 
Blue Book for the year 1881, is about thirty-seven times 
greater than the price paid for a similar quantity of Saudal 
wood. Gaharu producing trees should therefore find a liberal 
place in the planting operations of the present and future. 
Malacca cane, which, like Gaharu trees, is on the verge of ex- 
tinction in the Se J foment, has been hunted down all over the 
country, and is now ouij h.mnd in small quantities in the dis- 
trict of Nialas, and near M\ - \t Ophir. The modifications I 
have proposed in the Jus reser\ take in a good many of 
these canes and so conserve them. 
m • v' " r 
103. The topographical features of Penang differ so much 
from the other Settlements that I have not attempted to show 
on the annexed map of the island any proposed forest reserves. 
The first thing that calls for attention in Penang is the 
proper distribution and regulation of the mountain forest 
reserves. Some of the hill slopes are very steep, while others 
again after being so for a certain height lose this character, 
and grow comparatively flat, causing as it were double table- 
land, one at a low elevation and the other higher up; other slopes 
extend from near the interior with considerable steepness to the 
sea-edge; having- no level ground whatever at the bottom. It 
is not, therefore, possible to lay down any hard and fast rule as 
to the amount of forest which should he retained on each 
mountain crest. I think, however, that about one-third of the 
higher mountain slopes of the island should be kept under jun- 
gle. Such reserves once established should he kept clearly 
demarcated and constantly watched by the Forest Police. 
. i04. Many of the denuded hill tops require to be plant- 
ed, or sown with seeds in contouring bands, and this is the 
cheapest and quickest mode of establishing forests, and it can 
be largely acted upon on Penang Hill. 
105. Nothing, however, requires more urgent attention than 
that portion which acts as the catchment area of the river 
feeding the town reservoir. The watershed has been allowed 
to be, over-run by cultivation to a deplorable extent ; but this 
must be put a stop to and the cultivators with their pigs and 
other “ barang-barang” turned off. The watershed should be 
closely re-wooded by the encouragement of spontaneous 
growth, seed sowing, &c. The same remarks apply to the 
catchment areas of all important streams which should he kept 
under dense jungle in order to protect the purity of water. 
Such streams should also be protected by a belt of reserve 
jungle along their hanks. Should any portions of the water- 
shed be found to have been sold or granted away by the Land 
