90 REPORT 1851. 



Native Name. 



Kurrawa Laurus Sassafras Sassafras. 



Keiiamet Santalum Bastard Sandal-wood. 



Thee-Kye-bo. . . . Laurus C. Wild Cinnamon. 



Akyan A very fragrant and a very scarce wood, of high value 



with the natives. 



" The oil-producing trees are — 



Ten-nyeng and Eing ; both of the class Dipterocarpus, and 

 Theet-Tyee, producing the black varnish peculiar to the Burman terri- 

 tory, and of which the lacquered ware in general use is made. 



" The Tavoy province, from the large number of wood oil-trees found in 

 its forests, supplies the whole of the provinces with materials made from the 

 oil, <Src. 



" The other known forest productions, which in quantities would form a 

 valuable acquisition to the exports of these provinces, are, — 



Gamboge, produce of Tha-nahtan, Garcinia elliptica. 

 Camphor, „ Blumea. 



Balsam tolu. 

 Cardamoms. 



" The trees producing both Gamboge and Balsam tolu, are unequally 

 dispersed through the jungles, and are comparatively scarce; the gamboge 

 predominates, and might afford a considerable quantity of the article, did the 

 knowledge of its value and the process of collecting it exist with the Karens; 

 the tree however is felled indiscriminately with the rest of the forest in the 

 annual clearings for upland paddy, and vegetable plantations, and an article 

 which forms a prominent item in the rich exports from Siam, is on this side 

 of the border range utterly neglected and destroyed. 



" The most common weed which springs up after the fires of the new 

 clearings in the jungle, is that which produces the camphor ; of its abun- 

 dance it is scarcely necessary to remark, that it is, next to grass, in excess of 

 all other spontaneous vegetable life, and with proper appliances in the ma- 

 nufacture of the salt (its property), might be rendered useful as an article of 

 commerce*." 



The probable effects on the climate of Penang, of the continued destruc- 

 tion of the hill jungles of that island, are ably stated by J. S. Logan, Esq., 

 in the same journal (vol. ii. p. 534 et seq.). " It was remarked that the whole 

 of the eastern front of the range (in Penang) has within a few years been 

 denuded of its forest ; the greater part of it is too steep for any permanent 

 cultivation, and in all probability, after the fecundity of the fresh soil en- 

 riched by the ashes of the trees has been exiiausted, it will be abandoned by 

 the Chinese squatters. It was not here alone that I was surprised to see the 

 rapid progress which squatters and Chinese charcoal-burners have made in 

 destroying the jungles in the hills during the last two years. In Singapore, 

 the present zealous Governor (Col. Butterworth) has in an enlightened spirit, 

 akin to that which has for some time characterized the Government of India 

 in reference to the same subject, absolutely prohibited the further destruction 

 of forests on the summits of hills. Representations have often been made to 

 the local authorities at Penang, urging the necessity of reserving the jungles 

 on the summits and higher slopes, but hitherto without effect. The reply 



* Mr. O'Riley, ' Vegetable Productions of Tenasserim.' Provin. Jouin. Iiid. Arcliipel. 

 Feb. 1850. 



