Nuddee, extending over an area of 120 square miles. The best portions of these forests have remained untouched from the difficulties of removing the timber, though it is noted from the Assistant Conservator's Report that here, as on the Lower Deehing, the Deehing Saw Mill Company have been extensively employed without restriction or supervision.

The forests on the right bank of the Dehsang Nuddee, covering an area of about 30 miles in length and 4 miles in width. In the absence of any special demand in the neighbourhood, this tract has been less worked.

All these forests contain most of the kinds of wood prevalent in Assam, and in places are exceptionally rich in valuable timber. The Report of the Assistant Conservator gives a full account of the different varieties to be found in the different forests, the natural facilities for the transport of the produce, and the necessity which exists for more careful protection with a view to the development of these extensive sources of revenue to the State. But the Lieutenant-Governor cannot fail to notice that the operations of the Department have brought to light the unrestricted occupation by different private companies of tracts of forest-covered land for the supply of timber for their own uses. Thus, the Upper Assam Tea Company's saw mill is in active employment in the neighbourhood of Deebrooghur; the Deehing Saw Mill Company is working the 'exceptionally fine " poma" (Cedrela Toona) forests on the Sessa Nuddee,' and other forest tracts on the Upper and Lower Deehing; and, according to the Assistant Conservator, 'up to the present year no restrictions have been exercised' by the Department as regards their proceedings. It appears to the Lieutenant-Governor that these statements demand the attention of the Conservator. In May last, the Government, on the recommendation of the Conservator, sanctioned an arrangement between the Forest Department and the NorthEast Saw Mills Company for cutting timber within certain limits in the Assam Forests. Rules were framed to prevent unreasonable felling to the deterioration of the forests; higher charges were laid down for the use of the more valuable trees, and the arrangement was adopted that no timber should be used by the company until marked and passed by the Forest Department. Similar regulations are required for the prevention of unnecessary waste of the Government forests in other places where such companies are established; for, while the Lieutenant-Governor fully recognises the value of such

agencies for the supply of timber to meet all local wants in Assam, it cannot be permitted that the system hitherto in force of uncontrolled use of the State forests by private companies should continue."

Wholesale lumbering had, in fact, quickly followed the advent of the tea planter in Assam, and the Forest Department was but just in time to save great areas of fine timber from the lumberer.

"In the forests beyond the 'mouzahs,' no conservancy arrangements have yet been enforced, nor indeed has inspection even been effected; but general information points to the probability of their containing the same kinds of timber as the forests which have been explored, and possessing easy means of transport for their produce in the numerous water channels communicating with the Brahmaputra. It has been suggested, as a preliminary to the introduction of regular conservancy, that these forests might be advantageously worked to a profit by holders of permits from the Forest Department. The subject is one which the Conservator may take into consideration; but the Lieutenant-Governor desires that there may be no interference with the people occupying tracts beyond the direct control of the civil authorities, unless with the previous consent of the Commissioner of the division.

It is noted that some forests of great value are found in Luckimpore, on the south side of the Brahmaputra. Care and attention are undoubtedly necessary to promote the growth of these trees, for their importance in rearing silk-worms cannot be exaggerated as long as the manufacture of silk continues to be one of the most profitable occupations of the inhabitants of the district.

The Lieutenant-Governor would wish for some explanation of the Assistant Conservator's statement in page 22 of the Report, that 'a large revenue is still realised from the "caoutchouc mehals" in Luckimpore, but the greater portion of the caoutchouc on which the revenue is realised is imported from foreign territory.'

Seebsagur.-The forests are reported to be very much scattered, but withal of a superior description, though not so generally rich as those of the Luckimpore District; the more important tracts being those on the Deehing Nuddee, between the Deehingmook and Jhangeemook, that portion of the

Nambur Forests on the left bank of the Dhunsiri River, and those on the left bank of the Kullanee River. Considerable portions of these, as well as of other tracts of valuable forests scattered through the district, are said to have been taken up for tea cultivation.

It is reported that many of the forests near the Assam Company's gardens are so far exhausted that plantations are being formed for the purpose of obtaining wood for charcoal, and the Assistant Conservator has suggested the introduction of conservancy measures into such portions as have not been taken up for tea cultivation, or such as have again been thrown up, or may be abandoned in future. The Lieutenant-Governor hopes that the Conservator will give his best attention to this suggestion.

Naga Hills.-These forests cover 1288 square miles, and are some of the most valuable in Assam, being compact evergreen forests with a very large proportion of valuable timber trees in them. They are enumerated as the Doyang, Dhunsiri and Kullanee; the second being reserved and placed in charge of a forest watcher for protective purposes. It is observed that large portions of the Kullanee Forests are destroyed by 'Jhum' cultivation. Measures should be attempted to exclude such cultivation from the midst of valuable timber forests, in which the introduction of a system of Forest Conservancy is desirable. The attention of the Commissioner will be called to the subject.

Nowgong. Here it appears that the predominating forests are of sâl, but are of little importance and contain very stunted trees and saplings only. Those marginally cited have undergone inspection, but, from the inferiority of the timber and the difficulty of access to the forests, no conservancy measures are contemplated.

Khasi and Jynteah Hills.—It is reported that most of the forests on the southern slopes of these Jynteah Hills have been leased by Government from certain chiefs, and that the privilege of felling timber in the Jeerang Forest was sold by Government for three years, from April, 1868, to April, 1871, on the fixed annual rent of Rs.150, to Chandi Rai Seim of Nunklow, and that the revenue derived from the Mandum Forest is entirely devoted to the maintenance of the Seim's family. It does not appear that there has been any correspondence on the subject between Government and the local officers, by whom, in connection with the Forest Department, it is presumed the

settlement of these matters has been concluded. The Lieutenant-Governor desires to be supplied with a copy of any correspondence that may have taken place showing the precise conditions on which the sale of the forests in question was effected. The absence of all restriction in the cutting of timber in the Jeerang Forest, even for the limited period of three years, seems an undesirable arrangement.

Extensive forests of the Pinus longifolia (Pinus khasya) are to be found adjacent to Shillong; but the LieutenantGovernor regrets to learn of their indifferent treatment by those who own them. Government is unable to interfere in the management of these private forests, but the Commissioner's attention will be called to the remarks regarding the condition of the forests within the station.

The suggestion that the extension of the tracts of pine forests in which the trees have suffered from jungle fires might be secured by scattering seed, is perhaps deserving of experiment."

About seven square miles of land round Shillong belonged to the Government and contained some good quality pine forests on it. In spite of the above recorded remarks of the Lieutenant-Governor the treatment of the forests on all Government land during the succeeding 30 years left much to be desired.

CHAPTER XII

FOREST OPERATIONS IN BENGAL AND ASSAM, 1865–1870

(continued)

THE FORESTS OF THE CHITTAGONG DISTRICT, CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS AND LUSHAI

I

N the information collected under Anderson's Circular dated 19th October, 1864, issued through the Secretary to the Government of Bengal, to all Commissioners of Divisions, no mention was made or data given of the extensive forests of Chittagong and the Hill Tracts, Hill Tipperah and the Lushai Hills. It will be of interest, so far as possible, to rectify this omission from other sources.

In his book, Thirteen Years Amongst the Wild Beasts of India, Sanderson gives some interesting information on the subject of the forest areas of the Chittagong District, the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the Lushai Hills to the north as they were at this period and had been for a century past.

Sanderson was in charge of the Elephant-catching, or Kheddah, Department in Mysore for some years. In 1875 he was deputed to Dacca, which was the head-quarters of the Bengal "khedah " establishment, to officiate in charge during the absence on furlough of the permanent officer. The East changes but slowly, and his description of the journey to Dacca, via Goalundo up the Brahmaputra, might have been written a quarter of a century after, or before, his visit. Dacca, situated on the Brahmaputra, had been a city of great importance under the Moguls, but although still populous (70,000 inhabitants) its former glory had departed. It had once been a great shipbuilding centre, drawing its supplies of wood from the great forests on the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Hill Tipperah, and Lushai Hills and areas to the north. In old times a fleet of 800 armed vessels had been maintained at Dacca, and were employed in guarding the southern coast against the ravages of Aracanese pirates.