xx.] INDIAN TEAK. 117 



from the moisture lodging in the ruptured parts, are not 

 unfrequent in it. 



The Laingbooe Teak has a most peculiar growth, and 

 deviates strangely from the ordinary cylindrical form, in 

 having its stem twisted and deeply grooved, or fluted. It 

 consequently takes a tree of rather large size to yield a 

 small straight square log, and when obtained it is but 

 an indifferent one, owing to the fibre of the grain having 

 been cut and weakened by the hewing of an irregular 

 form or shape into a regular one. In colour this wood 

 is rather darker than any of the others, and it is also 

 considerably harder and heavier. 



The Irrawaddy or Rangoon Teak timber is of a pale 

 yellow colour, very closely resembling the Thoungyeen 

 Teak of the Moulmein district in its uniformity of 

 texture, and in having a long straight grain. It is a 

 clean free kind of wood, with the centre commonly softer 

 and more spongy than the outer annual layers. In 

 consequence of this it cuts transversely, with a coarseness 

 and fluffiness of surface near the pith which is remark- 

 able ; this, I consider, may be taken as indicative of 

 poorness or inferiority in the quality.* 



It is also characteristic of the Rangoon or Irrawaddy 

 Teak to be shaky at the centre, there being, besides the 

 heart-shake, which is common more or less to Teak 

 timber, a close, fine, star-shake, radiating from the pith, 

 which is seriously detrimental to its value. Many of the 

 logs cannot, therefore, on this account be converted into 

 planks and boards without incurring a very considerable 



* The dealers in Rangoon Teak wood say that the soft spongy appear- 

 ance is of no consequence, as it is merely caused by the workmen having 

 used a coarse cross-cut saw for butting and topping the logs, in place of an 

 ordinary fine-toothed one, that would be better fitted for it. 



