THE FORESTS OF SOUTH INDIA. FIRST ANNUAL REPORT ON FOREST OPERATIONS IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. From H. CLEGHORN, Esq., M.D., Conservator of Forests, to the SECRETARY to GOVERNMENT, Fort St George. MANGALORE, 1st May 1858. SIR,-1. I have the honour to report, for the information of the Right Honourable the Governor in Council, that during the past year I proceeded on my first tour of inspection, traversed Mysore, and visited the depôts at the mouths of nearly all the rivers on the Malabar coast, examining great part of the Western Ghats, with a view to ascertain the exact state of the government forests, their extent and capabilities. I travelled through the most wooded portions along the chain of ghats, ascending and descending by the following mountain passes, Anisy, Arbyle, Bun, Sampajee, Perambady, Sispára, Tambacherry, Palghat, Sigur, Kunur, from the Bombay frontier down to Ponány. I afterwards went across the Anamalai Hills and round the slopes of the Nilgiri Hills. I also made a circuit of Wainád, and twice visited the Conolly plantations at Nellambur, being altogether eight months absent from the presidency. 2. As I have already submitted my views at length on several topics in accordance with the instructions of government, such as Jackatalla Plantations, Nilgiri Woods, Utakamand Garden, Anamalai Forests, Canara Forests, Striharicotta Jungles, price of timber, memorandum on gutta percha, I shall here confine |