340 APPENDIX C 



Department also takes it regularly. Andamanese timber has also been supplied 

 to Woolwich Arsenal. These facts show that Andamanese timber is of value 

 to such establishments as gun-carriage factories, arsenals, gymnasia, and ship- 

 building yards. 



For various reasons, most of the Andamanese timbers will probably be 

 found to be best marketable in a converted form. It is believed that such con- 

 verted timbers will be found useful for six large trades at least, viz., paving 

 wood-blocks, gun-stocks, pianoforte manufacture, furniture, organ building — 

 for which Padouk is pre-eminently suitable — and electric light and telephone 

 fittings. If Gurjan should turn out, as is beHeved to be probable, to be of use 

 for paving wood-blocks, then the supply would be very large. 



Two forms of converted timbers may be specially noticed as probably 

 marketable in large quantities, viz., railway sleepers, and tea shooks. It is 

 believed that there are several timbers which would stand the strain of railway 

 traffic ; and as regards tea shooks, Gurjan is used for this purpose in some mills 

 in Assam, and of this particular wood there is an unlimited supply all over the 

 Andamans, which could probably be delivered locally at a price which would 

 enable it to compete well in Indian markets with other timbers used for tea- 

 boxes. 



The supply of mangrove billets for firewood, at points where it can be easily 

 and cheaply shipped, is very large in the Andamans, and it is thought possible 

 that a very profitable and lasting Indian trade might be established in firewood. 



At present, no trade exists at all in gurjan oil, and, as above stated, the 

 supply of Gurjan trees is unlimited. It is believed that the supply of Gurjan in 

 India has largely been worked out, therefore that in the Andamans should 

 become valuable. A small quantity of gurjan oil is extracted in the Settlement 

 and used chiefly for mixing with earth oil for application to shingle roofs. The 

 uses to which this oil is put are so many that the possibility of a profitable 

 trade in the Andamanese supply seems to be beyond question. 



For the construction of houses, bridges, and jetties, the following species 

 are chiefly used in the Settlement : — 



Padouk. — Posts, trusses, purlins, common rafters, battens, floor and wall 

 planking, shingles, doors, and windows. 



Koko. — Joists, common rafters, battens, fillets, floor-planking, doors, and 

 windows. 



White Chuglam. — Floor and ceiling planking. 



Pyimtna. — Posts, joists, common rafters, purlins, frames, floor and wall 

 planking, shingles. 



Lakiich and Mowha. — Posts, girders, beams, and purlins. 



Gangaw. — Posts, girders of bridges, 3-inch planking over sluices, and 

 sluice-gates. 



Thitmin. — Inside walling and jambs, shelves, and any light work. 



In boat-building the following species are used by the Marine Depart- 

 ment : — 



Padouk. — Hull planks, keel, stem and stern posts, ribs of large boats, and 

 thwarts. 



