ol ek iy aii eiadiomd 
STE a re he eee 
Gmelina, DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA., 8&5 
purposes by the natives of various countries where it grows. 
That of such trees as will square into logs from eighteen to 
twenty-four inches resembles Teak more than any other sorts 
I have yet met with. The colour is almost exactly the same, 
the grain rather closer, at the same time it is fully as light, if 
not lighter, and as easily worked. 
Some years ago I ,received from Mr, M’Cleish, a Timber 
Merchant, then residing at Patna, but since dead, a large 
square log, of what I conceive to be this wood, which mea- 
sured nearly thirty feet in length, and at the thickest-end 
was full twenty-four inches square. : 
This piece afforded ample supplies for various experi- 
ments, One of them, and. the most interesting, was made by 
placing part of an outside plank in the river, a little above 
low water mark, exactly where the worm is thought to ex- 
ert its greatest powers, After remaining three years in this 
situation, though examined from time to time, the piece was 
cut, with the view of carrying a specimen of it to England, 
and to my great joy, I found it as sound and every way as per- 
fect throughout, as it was when first put into the river, 
Amongst other things, a valuable flood door was made.of 
it, to keep the tides out of the Botanic. garden. It is now 
seven years anda half since the door (which is four. feet 
square) was made, and though much exposed to the sun 
and water, yet it remains good ; while similar doors, though _ 
much smaller, made of Teak, were so much decayed, a 
year ago, as to render it necessary to replace them. 
In addition to my own experiments,.I have lately learned 
that the decks of pinnaces to the eastward, about Chittagong, 
Dacca, &c, are made of this timber, because it bears the wea- 
ther better than any other shen know, without whine or 
warping. 
These favourable caccompstanens. Sane me to. Ipsesthat 
ats will be made to ascertain its value when used 
for the hia aBper Pen mi of veemhep as wall ae 
