94 TIMBER 
Teak is of fairly heavy weight, a cubic foot of seasoned 
wood having a reputed weight of 45 Ibs. It is of uniform 
golden-brown colour, very occasionally in the Burmese 
varieties, having black streaks on its surface, and is 
still more rarely found with some little figure. Now 
and again it has also a greenish tinge when cut, this 
colour, however, disappearing on exposure to the 
air. The grain of the wood is open and slightly coarse, 
and, when planed or worked, a most unpleasant smell 
is emitted, which, however, like the green colour 
above mentioned, disappears with exposure. There 
- is a gritty substance in the pores of the wood which 
blunts any edged tools, but, upon the whole, it has 
admirable working qualities. Its strength and durabil- 
ity is unequalled, especially in regard to the latter 
quality, even in the moist heat of the tropics the wood 
being practically imperishable. Its great and peculiar 
virtue, however, and that which first brought it into 
notice, in addition to its many other good qualities, 
is its possession of some oil or substance in its constitu- 
tion that prevents the rusting and corrosion of iron 
when that metal is placed in contact with it, and, for 
this quality alone, it is highly esteemed in naval circles 
all over the world, no wood having yet been found 
that possesses similar features. 
The timber can be obtained in excellent dimensions, 
both in regard to lengths and sizes. Formerly, all the 
wood received in England was in the form of squared 
timber, but, within the last thirty or forty years, much 
besides has been sent in the form of planks, boards, 
scantlings and other conversions. Almost since the 
naval authorities put their seal on its qualities, the 
finest logs in length, diameter and quality, have been 
reserved by shippers for export, the selection being 
known as “ Europe quality.” 
