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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 7, p. 100.

00oo BASI1 DISTRICT modified in the past by an admixture of the types found in the northern tracts of the Hyderabad State, and more lately, since recent years of scarcity and famine, by the importation of cattle of the Nimari, Shola- puri, and Labbani breeds. Buffaloes are chiefly of the Dakhani breed. The local breeds of ponies, sheep, and goats are inferior, and the breeders have neither the knowledge nor the means necessary to their improvement. Only 6 square miles of the cultivated land were irrigated in 1903-4, consisting almost entirely of garden crops, watered from wells. Of the forest land, 266 square miles are reserved for the production of timber and fuel, 19 square miles are ramna land, and 436 square miles are grazing land. The forests producing timber Forests. are situated on the northern slopes of the Balaghat, in the Basim taluk, on the hills north of the Pus river between the Mangrul and Pusad tdluks, on the hills forming the watershed between the Pus and Penganga rivers, and in the south-eastern corner of the Pusad taduk in the loop of the Penganga. All these forests contain teak, which varies in size and quality in different localities, the best being found in the Kinwat Reserve in the loop of the Penganga. Tiwas (Ougeinia dalbergioides) is also common in this Reserve, but rarer else- where. Ain (Termninalia lomentosa), dhaura (Anogeissus latifolia), lendia (Lagerstroemia parviflora), and dhdman (Grezwi tiliaefolia) are also common and useful trees. The following trees are common in both forest and cultivated land: babul (Acacia arabica), hiwar (Acacia leucophloea), mahua (Bassia latifolia), gular (Ficus giomerata), chinch or imli (Tamarindus indica), and ber (Zizyphus fujuba). The mango is cultivated, but does not grow wild in the forests; bamboos are rare, and, where found, inferior. The iron ore found in the Pusad hills, which has already been mentioned, seems to be the only mineral product of the District, and it is very doubtful whether it is of economic value. There are no important manufactures. The principal industry is the preparation of cotton for the market. The District communications contained I6 ginning factories and 2 cotton-presses, all worked by steam. The chief export is cotton, which is sent by road to Akola and thence by rail to Bombay. Some of the cotton from the south of the Pusad taluk finds its way to the Hyderabad-Godavari Valley Railway. Oil- seeds and grain and pulse are also exported. The principal imports are grain and pulse, sugar, salt, and oils, which come chiefly from Akola, having been brought thither by rail. Most of the internal trade is effected through the agency of the weekly markets atpargana towns. Basim has a cotton market. The traders are chiefly Marwaris and Komatis.