INDIA, BUKMA, AND ANDAMAN ISLANDS 183 



acting as a prevenfcative against rust. Teak is the chief 

 timber used in most parts of India for engineering structures, 

 temples, and heavy work, and is one of the few timbers 

 which resist the white ant. It lasts fairly well in sea 

 water, and the teredo will not choose it in preference to other 

 timber in the same neighbourhood. Its durability in tropical 

 climates is extraordinary ; instances are known of teak beams 

 having lasted a thousand years, and it is one of the few really 

 durable Indian timbers. It is a good deal used for sleepers, 

 and half-round timbers of jungle teak have been in the track 

 after at least twenty-five years' service in Bombay and 

 Gujarat. The Burmese use it a good deal for carving, but 

 owing to the grain it cannot be very finely worked. Some 

 of the internal woodwork of Truro Cathedral is of teak ; it 

 is largely used for ships' decking, handrails, exposed doors 

 and fittings all over the world, for boat and house building 

 and for furniture in India, and for doors, windows, and 

 first-class joinery work in Great Britain. It is too costly 

 for use out of India except for special work, being the 

 dearest timber with the exception of mahogany imported 

 in any large quantities into Great Britain. It is stronger 

 and stiffer than English oak, although the structure of the 

 wood is somewhat similar. The price of Kangoon logs in 

 the English market varies from 6 10s. to 9, flitches or 

 slabs from 9 10s. to 12, and planks from '14 5s. to 

 19 35s. per load of 50 cubic ft., and for good ships' decks 

 it will sometimes run up to nearly 30 a load. 



From what has been said as to the risk in cutting up 

 teak logs it will be evident that for planking or thin stuff it 

 is advisable to buy teak cut as required and not in the log. 



A large quantity of Java teak is now imported, but it is 

 not nearly of such good quality as Rangoon teak. It is not 

 such a mellow wood, being softer, more coarse and open in 

 grain, and in the log as imported is much more burrowed 



