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Rh of the Government to monopolize the forests, to restrain the free trader, or to trench on the rights of grantees, or the lessees of forest lands. Mr. Colvin's first business was to settle this forest question. In 1847 the estimated number of teak trees still remaining in the three forests is shown in a collection of papers relating to the Tenasserim forests, published by the Government in 1862, to have been as follows:—

In the third section, it would seem that there were some lessees still in possession; but, speaking generally, the disposal of the trees in the last four sections was the matter which awaited Mr. Colvin's decision. He regarded the orders of the Calcutta Government as disposing of the first section, which having been denuded of timber had practically disposed of itself. Dr. Brandis (afterwards Sir Dietrich, and Inspector-General of Forests in India), in a Report, dated 1860, says in this regard, 'From this time (1845) the history of the Attaran forests began in a great measure to lose its practical interest, as regards the general welfare of