1 ( 4 )
2 18. The length of path cut round the reserve is 48 miles, in which 83 pillars
3 have been erected. Tho numbers alone remain to be
4 Progress of D ration. .
5 ee seo attached to the pillars to complete the domarcation.
6 A map of the Ghat Boree Reserve which accompanied the Assistant Conser-
7 vator’s Report 1s appended.
8 19. This forest was only partially domarcated by the end of March, but I
9 have since heard from Mr. Morrow of its completion.
10 The total length of boundary line is 38 miles, but
11 on 15 miles of this where the Paeen Gunga river forms the southern limit, no clear-
12 jug was necessary. The number of pillars erected is 54.
13 Paeen Gunga Reserve.
14 20. Mr. Morrow’s Report does not furnish sufficient detail to enable me to
15 show the cost of demarcating each reserve sepa-
16 rately. The total expenditure for the year, how-
17 ever, amounts to Rupees 1,125-10-6.
18 Cost of demarcating Reserves in
19 Southern Division.
20 21. Ihave purposely omitted to give any descriptive account of the Forests
21 in the Southern Division, as this was done briefly in
22 last year’s Report, and in addition to this a detailed
23 Report was subinitted with my No. 548, dated 29th July last.
24 Descriptive account of Reserves.
25 HEAD I.—STATE FORESTS, AND LEASED FORESTS.
26 qemeetiosh gel)
27 Seotion 2.—REQUIREMENTS OF THE SURROUNDING PoruLaTION, Prescriptive RIcHts.
28 22. Under this section orders were received last October from the Govern-
29 ment of India to introduce certain changes with re-
30 ference to villages situated within the Byraghur Re-
31 serve. It was directed, that where no well defined boundaries existed, the limits of
32 the forest and of the villages were to be separately demarcated.
33 Byraghur Reserve.
34 23. As the carrying out of these orders would have given rise to endless
35 Recent orders regerding demarcation, fficulties, I took upon myself, with the approval
36 of the District Authorities, to delay their introduc-
37 tion pending a further reference, and a full report on the subject was submitted in
38 this office No. 207, dated 29th February 1872, to which no reply has yet been
39 ae It was therein pointed out, how the orders were entirely opposed
40 0 the ryotwary system of settlement in force in Berar. Also that their intro-
41 duction would necessitate the curtailment of present mghts and privileges, and
42 that this could hardly fail to lead to most disastrous consequences, and perhaps
43 even to the departure of a considerable portion of the inhabitants, who have scarcely
44 yet recovered the effects of the curtailment of such of their former privileges, as
45 the introduction of Forest Conservancy rendered necessary, and are only now
46 becoming accustomed to the rules and working of the department.
47 24. The fewer changes we introduce at present the better, and these should
48 only be carried out when absolutely necessary. Our policy should rather be by
49 gradual and steady progress to carry the people along with us in all matters of
50 conservancy, working as much as possible through them, than to set them in
51 opposition to us, as it were, from the commencement by interfering with customs
52 not actually injurious, more especially when the motives fur such interference could
53 ‘hardly fail to be mis-understood.
54 25. It will be remembered that these hill people have hitherto, and do still
55 Ds — enjoy the privilege of grazing their cattle anywhere
56 foe of inhabitants of Byraghur throughout the reserve except in specially closed
57 blocks on payment of a small duty—plough cattle
58 being allowed grazing free—also of cutting grass, firewood, and timber, other than