CHAPTER XXII. 



BORNEO AND THE CHINA SEAS. 



THE Chow, or Menkabang Penang tree, is found in the 

 Island of Borneo, where it is said to be very abundant. 

 It attains large dimensions, is of straight growth, and 

 yields timber in the log of from 30 to 70 feet in length, 

 and from 15 to 26 inches square. 



The wood is of a yellowish or straw colour, close and 

 fine in texture, straight in the grain, hard, heavy, tough, 

 and exceedingly strong. It is used in Borneo and the 

 countries bordering on the China seas, for the masts of 

 junks and other vessels, for house and ship-building, and 

 for a variety of minor purposes. 



The earliest importation of the Chow, or Menkabang 

 Penang timber, into this country was, I believe, in 

 1 860-6 1, when it came direct to the London market, 

 and thence passed into Woolwich Dockyard, to be 

 experimentally employed for beams, keelsons, and other 

 purposes where strong, straight timber is required in 

 ship-building ; and in this way it gave every satisfaction. 



One or two cargoes of Borneo timber, including the 

 Chow, subsequently reached this country, and were 

 delivered at the northern ports, where they were 

 gradually absorbed, chiefly in ship-building ; but, owing 

 to the more extended use of iron in ships, the wood is 

 not now inquired for, and the importations appear, for 

 a time at least, to have ceased. 



