xx.] INDIAN TEAK. 123 



quarter to half an inch in diameter are found upon the 

 surface, which often penetrate deeply and in all direc- 

 tions. Such logs have generally a dull appearance, and 

 are invariably brittle and of inferior quality. This 

 defect is, I consider, indicative of an unhealthy if not 

 dead state of the tree, before it was cut down. 



The ravages of the worm are detrimental to the 

 strength and value of the timber, and logs so affected 

 are not fit to be reduced to plank for use on bottoms 

 of ships. 



Teak, notwithstanding its defects, is extensively used 

 for ship-building in this country, in place of English and 

 other Oaks, African and Sabicu timber, &c., &c., and 

 the objection that was formerly made against its use in 

 ships of war, as being unsuitable, on account of its lia- 

 bility to splinter if struck by a shot, is no longer allowed 

 to stand in the way of its employment. 



Teak timber is also used, to a moderate extent, for 

 ship-building in the arsenals of foreign countries. 



The quantities of Teak timber received here annually 

 from Moulmein have hitherto been very large, and so 

 greatly in excess of that which it was calculated a few 

 years ago could be drawn from the Tenasserim forests, 

 that fears have been entertained the supply from that 

 source must soon fail, and we notice a falling off in 

 the shipments. This has, however, been supplemented 

 by the shipment of considerable quantities of Teak from 

 Rangoon, and it seems probable that that port will soon 

 become the chief timber station for the export of this 

 important article of commerce.* 



I do not, with this new source of supply open to us, 



* Between 1865 an d 1870, inclusive, Moulmein sent to Europe 147,421 

 loads, and Rangoon 28,821 loads of Teak timber. 



