240 AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIGN MARKETS. 



LUMBER TRADE OF THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. 



In the dense jungles that still cover a vast portion of the Malay 

 Peninsula and the adjacent islands there exist many rare and valu- 

 able forest trees indigenous and peculiar to this region. Of these I 

 shall proceed to enumerate and briefly describe the nine best known 

 lumber-yielding varieties. 



Seriah (liopea). This is a tall, handsome tree, with wood of a light 

 red color, resembling coarse cedar in grain, much used in house building 

 for joinery work, but not suitable for beams and joists. 



Mercanti. An inferior variety of the preceding. 



Jelulong (dyera costulate). This is a large tree, with soft, white wood, 

 used for models, cases, and work where strength and durability are not 

 essential. 



Darrou (sideroxylon sundaicum). A heavy, close-grained wood, resin- 

 ous and aromatic, which, though well adapted to carpenters' work, 

 does not resist exposure to the weather sufficiently well to admit of 

 being used to advantage in external constructions. 



Balan (not scientifically determined). A fine, large forest tree, <K) to 

 100 feet in height and 3 to 6 feet in diameter, with hard, heavy, close- 

 grained, tenacious wood of a light brown color, much used for joists 

 and beams and for all purposes where strength and durability are 

 required. 



Tampinis (sloetia sideroxylon). A close-grained wood of rich brown 

 color, susceptible of a higli polish, and closely resembling mahogany ; 

 most highly prized for joinery and building purposes on account both 

 of its great durability and of the fact that it is not affected, as are other 

 woods, by the ravages of the white ant, so destructive to timber in 

 these latitudes. 



Karangie (dialum indicum). A tall, handsome tree, often found grow- 

 ing to a height of 60 feet, with a diameter of I feet. Its wood is hard, 

 dark colored, durable, and often finely grained. It is used for furni 

 ture, and, to a certain extent, for building purposes. 



Damnrlnnt (canarium species). One of the great Malayan forest 

 trees, especially plentiful in the neighborhood of Penang, where it is 

 much used for house building. Its wood is light colored, close grained, 

 and lustrous, and is admirably suited for beams and joists on account 

 of its great transverse strength and stiffness. 



Mirabou (afzelia palembanica). A large, majestic, leguminous forest 

 tree, with tough, stiff, durable, beautifully grained wood, susceptible of 

 nne polish, and well adapted to furniture making. 



