Sa 



WESTERN HINDOOS T A N. 



* I:>eft, both in point of workmanfliip and materials, of any 

 ' that are confi:ru6led in I?7dia : and although fourth rates only 

 ^ are mentioned in the letter, there is no doubt but that third 

 ' rates may be conftruited, as there is a choice of timber. The 

 ^ Spaniards build capital fhips in their foreign fettlements. 

 ' The Eaji India Company have a teek fhip on her fourth 



voyage at prefent, which fliip has wintered in England^ 

 ' therefore any objecSlion founded on the effe6ts of frolt on the 

 ' teek timber, is done away. 



*' Frequent have been the opportunities I have had of ob- 

 ' ferving how very rapid the decay of fliips built of European 



* timber is in the Eajl Indies ; and, on the contrary, how du- 



* rable the fhips are, that are built of the wood of that country ; 



* namely, the teek, which may not improperly be ftyled In- 

 ' diajt oak. The number of fliips of war that were ruined in 



* thofe feas during the late war (1757 to 1762) may be admitted 

 « as a proof of the former remark ; and the great age of the 

 ' fliips built in India may ferve to prove the latter. What I mean 



* to infer from this, for your Lordfliip's ufe is, that fliips of war 

 ' under third rates may be conilruded in India^ and Vv'ith mo- 

 ' derate repairs lafl for ages ; whereas a fliip of European con- 

 ' ftru6lion can remain there but a very few years; to which dif- 



* advantage may be added, that of lofing, in the mean time, the 

 ** fervices of the fiiips that are fent to relieve the worn out ones." 



The Britannia, of feven hundred tons, which was built of 

 teek., made feveral voyages to Europe. 



The 'feek is an evergreen, and eileemed a fiicred tree. 

 The Gentoos repair or build their pagodas with this timber 

 only, when other materials are not ufed. A prince of Cali- 



colan 



