10. Owing to the dry weather, laiang fires were rather prevalent during the 
year, but with the exception of the Sungei Udang Forest Preserve no serious damage 
was done. In Sungei Udang a great extent of brushwood which was growing up 
nicely was destroyed on the coast side. 
In Bukit Panchor the brushwood is growing up very well and in many places is 
able to hold its own against any ordinary laiang fire. 
11. No traces of illicit timber cutting were discovered in either Sungei Udang 
or Bukit Panchor. In Brisu there ^as a case of rattan stealing but not of any great 
amount or importance, and no conviction was obtained. 
12. A small area of about 20 acres has been reserved at Tebong on Account of 
its containing getah taban trees. Altogether 338 trees were identified and mailed, 
but none of them were of any size larger than r 7 inches girth, and only one was 
found to be in flower. 
I have, &c., 
H. MARRIOTT, 
District Officer* 
Gutta Pereha. 
On the ioth February, 1900, the Acting Resident Councillor (Mr. Egerton) 
reported that 31 Getah Taban trees (Dichopsis Gutta) have been discovered in various 
parts of the Settlement (vide Malacca *^20.) Three of these trees were afterwards 
found to be not Dichopsis Gutta but Getah Sundek ( Payena Lcerit) . 
2. His Honour the Officer Administering the Government then gave orders that 
a Register should be kept by the Resident Councillor of all such trees, and that they 
should be regularly visited, and all seed should be collected when mature. 
3. Since that date, 667 trees have been discovered, ol which 505 are in the 
Alor Gajah District and 162 in the Jasiu District. All these are reported to be either 
Getah Taban Merab (Dichopsis Gutta) or Getah T aba'll Sutra (Dichopsis Oblongifolia.} 
The latter is very closely akin to the former, and I believe that Mr. Ridley now 
inclines to the belief that it is merely a variety of Dichopsis Gutta. In one minute 
he alludes to it as “ the long-leaved form of Dichopsis Guttai' Some of the trees 
were discovered by Forest Rangers, some by Surveyors and a good many by a Police 
Corporal, who had formerly been a Getah collector, and was sent out specially to look 
for trees. Two Dichopsis Obovata trees (Niato bunga) were also discovered, one 
at Bukit Duvong and the other at Bukit Katil. 
4. In some cases the trees were found growing on land which had been alienat- 
ed, and the land was resumed, the owners being given an equal area oi land else- 
where. 
5. A register of all trees discovered has been kept, as ordered by the Officer 
Administering the Government, and the total number of trees on the register is row 695. 
6. The trees have been marked, and in some cases fenced in with barbed wire, 
and the undergrowth has been cleared away, so as to give self-planted seedlings a 
chance to grow up, Most of the trees are quite young, and although there are a few 
older trees, no seed has yet been obtained. The trees have been frequently visited 
by the District Officer, the Forest Ranger and the Forest Guards. 
7. When Mr. Curtis arrives, he will be able to instruct the Forest Guards and 
Penghulus as to the times when any of the trees may be expected to bear seed, and 
an effort will be made to obtain a supply for planting in the nursery at Ayer Kroh. 
8. Five hundred seedlings of Dichopsis Gutta were obtained from Penang and 
planted, -some at a spot selected by Mr. CURTIS at the 7th mile on the Ayer I<Toh 
road, and some near the reservoir. I hey are planted in secondary jungle, the ground 
having been cleared of undergrowth, and most of them appear to be doing w.ell, espe- 
cially those near the Reservoir. 
9. Mr. Egerton purchased 200 stumps and 100 cuttings of Dichopsis Gutta 
from Mr. F. PEARS of Muar, which were planted at Ayer Kroh. J hey \yere not a 
success, and only 13 are now grow ing. 
10. The to!al amount spent out ol the vote of $2,000 was $1,124. r6. An abstract 
of the expenditure is attached. 
E. M. MEREWETHER, 
Acting Resident Councillor. 
