ON THE DESTRUCTION OF TROPICAL FORESTS. 89 



being of the largest size, and admirably adapted for ships' masts, are for the 

 sake of convenience and expedition in their transport to Moulmein, cut into 

 lengths of more manageable dimensions, say from fifteen to twenty cubits, and 

 in this form of log depreciate the value of the original spar to one-tenth of 

 the amount it would have realized as a ship's mast ! No excuse can be ad- 

 mitted in extenuation of this defective process of \vorking the forests : the 

 most powerful and effective animal power, in the shape of elephants (which 

 are in general use in the forest work), is abundant and cheap, and if to that 

 power the simplest European mechanical appliances were systematically 

 applied with ordinary skill and management, the British navy might be 

 masted from the teak forests of these provinces. 



" Whether it be found expedient to reserve the forests as a government 

 property exclusively, or on the other hand, granting right of property in per- 

 petuity to the holders of forest licenses on certain well-defined terms, and 

 thereby enlist their pecuniary interest in the preservation of the tree, and 

 improvement of their grants, — whether either of the foregoing form the basis 

 of the ultimate measures of Government, it must be evident that in the 

 establishment of a well-organized system of administration instead of the 

 present obviously defective one, permanent good must result. 



" The subject of teak-timber has claimed the attention of several public 

 journals of late, in consequence of some disclosures made in the proceedings 

 of the Government dock-yard of Bombay, and all are unanimous in directing 

 attention to it as a most important commodity, demanding the most stringent 

 legislation to secure supplies for the future from the British possessions 

 equal to the growing demand for it, as a staple, thus noticed by the ' Friend 

 of India' : — ' The amazing durability, we might almost say indestructibility 

 of teak, renders it not only one of the most valuable, but the most valuable 

 wood, in a climate like that of India, where the elements of decay are so 

 numerous and powerful, where dampness brings on rapid corruption, and 

 the white ant devours without scruple.' 



" The principal trees of Tenasserim are the following, some of them classed 

 by Dr. Wallich in his notice of the forests of these provinces : 



1. Anan. 6. Kouk Kmoo. 



2. Thengan, Hopea odorata. 7. Padouk, Pterocarpus. 



3. Peengado, Acacia. 8. Theet Kha. 



4. Bambwai. 9. Toung Baing. 



5. Pumah, Lagerstrcemia. 10. Yin dick, " a bastard Ebony." 



" The foregoing are the most generally knownwoods of the forestsin common 

 use with the natives, but to them might be added a list of forty or fifty others 

 more or less useful, which require but a careful examination to reveal some 

 quality that may render them of serviceable application. Of the remaining 

 forest trees and shrubs which possess valuable properties, the following are 

 those most adapted to a demand for European consumption ; but owing to that 

 absence of commercial enterprise already noticed, are at the present moment 

 all excluded from the list of exports in Great Britain. 



Dyes. 



Sapan-wood Ccesalpinia Sapan Teni-yeit. 



Jack-wood Artocarpus integrifolia .... Pemgnay. 



Red-dye Morinda citrifolia Neepatsay. 



"Of trees and plants possessing odoriferous properties those forming 

 articles of trade are as follows : — 



