DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2374#0143
MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 135
up in one place copiously, and not at all in another neighbouring CHAPTER
spot, although there be no apparent difference in the situation or ,J^*L,
soil. It springs partly from seed, scattered by the birds that eat Sept. 19.
its berries; and partly from the roots of the trees, that have for-
merly been cut; and requires about twenty years to come to per-
fection. No pains, that I could discover, are taken to preserve the
young plants from cattle; so that they always rise in a very strag-
gling manner. If form el y any systematic management was observed,
it has of late been entirely neglected. To prevent any person from
cutting sandal without permission from government, laws have long
existed : but these never were enforced with rigour by Tippoo.
They are excessively severe, and prevent the peasantry from ever
stealing the tree. It is only Rajas, and men above the law, that
venture on this kind of theft. The present plan adopted by the
Dewan seems to me to be the worst that could have been chosen.
The woods are as much destroyed as if they had been sold to a
renter; and, I am assured, will produce no more for at least twelve
years ; while no pains have been taken to make the most of what
has been cut. To the conduct of this minister, however, no blame
is, on this account, to be attached. He had sold the wood to the
Company; and the misconduct of the officer, whom he had en-
trusted to cut it down, rendered it necessary for him to adopt the
means by which he would be most likely enabled to fulfil his engage-
ments, without attending to any other circumstance of less impor-
tance.
Two means occur to me, as likely to ensure a considerable and
regular income from sandal-wood. One means would be, to grant
long leases to an individual, who would of course take every care
of the trees, and employ every means proper to render what was
■cut fit for the market. The rent would be fixed at so much a year;
and restrictive clauses, to prevent the renter from ruining the woods
toward the end of his lease, would be necessary. The difficulty in
exacting the performance of these restrictive clauses would make
up in one place copiously, and not at all in another neighbouring CHAPTER
spot, although there be no apparent difference in the situation or ,J^*L,
soil. It springs partly from seed, scattered by the birds that eat Sept. 19.
its berries; and partly from the roots of the trees, that have for-
merly been cut; and requires about twenty years to come to per-
fection. No pains, that I could discover, are taken to preserve the
young plants from cattle; so that they always rise in a very strag-
gling manner. If form el y any systematic management was observed,
it has of late been entirely neglected. To prevent any person from
cutting sandal without permission from government, laws have long
existed : but these never were enforced with rigour by Tippoo.
They are excessively severe, and prevent the peasantry from ever
stealing the tree. It is only Rajas, and men above the law, that
venture on this kind of theft. The present plan adopted by the
Dewan seems to me to be the worst that could have been chosen.
The woods are as much destroyed as if they had been sold to a
renter; and, I am assured, will produce no more for at least twelve
years ; while no pains have been taken to make the most of what
has been cut. To the conduct of this minister, however, no blame
is, on this account, to be attached. He had sold the wood to the
Company; and the misconduct of the officer, whom he had en-
trusted to cut it down, rendered it necessary for him to adopt the
means by which he would be most likely enabled to fulfil his engage-
ments, without attending to any other circumstance of less impor-
tance.
Two means occur to me, as likely to ensure a considerable and
regular income from sandal-wood. One means would be, to grant
long leases to an individual, who would of course take every care
of the trees, and employ every means proper to render what was
■cut fit for the market. The rent would be fixed at so much a year;
and restrictive clauses, to prevent the renter from ruining the woods
toward the end of his lease, would be necessary. The difficulty in
exacting the performance of these restrictive clauses would make