6 memosrs-of Dr James Anderson. May 9, 
easily supported, rendering large timbers, as beams of hou- 
ses, unnecefsary. / 
But it may be considered that the honourable company 
are at a very considerable expence for the Pegu teak, em- 
ployed in gun carriages, and other necefsary works, as well 
as the Europeans here in house building; nor fhould the. 
unhealthinefs of the clay houses of the natives, in the wet 
season, pafs unnoticed, while the true riches of a country is 
the number of useful inhabitants. : 
It is a distant prospect to look forward to. the oalak 
of trees, but this affords the best reason why no time 
fhould be lost in beginning to plant them. Some vines I 
planted here, gave grapes in thirteen months, when they 
were of such a size, that a native of the territory of Berry 
afsured me they would be deemed the growth of seven years 
in France; and I am convinced that timber trees come to 
as much size and perfection here in twenty years, as the 
timber trees in England attain in sixty 
Previously, however, to the planting of trees for timber, 
it would be well if the head men of every village were. 
advised of the utility of establifhing a store of bark of 
every different kind of tree, the bark of which is in’ use, 
that those who are in want may be supplied at a moderate 
valuation, without exposing all trees pramiscuously to be 
_ barked. 
Another circumstance in this country merits much at 
tention, being no lefs than the idlenefs of many of the 
labourers, from the beginning of February, when the crop 
is gathered inj until the month of August, that the par- 
tial fhowers of the season enable them to scratch the ground . 
with the small unimproved ancient plough. 
A suspension of labour for half the year, or even a 
fhorter space of time, will occasion want and disease a- 
~ 
mong the lower clafses in any country ; and here the ex-. 
treme wretchednefs that appears in their countenances, 
