LIST OF WOODS. 241 



somewhat astringent ; sold in the bazaars. The wood is much 

 used for ordinary purposes, but is of little value. (Travancore, 

 Mysore, Masulipatam, Palamkotta, Bangalore, Hort. Gard.) 



136. Tamarindus indica, Tamarind tree. Pulia-maram, Tarn. 

 Chinta chettu, Tel. Unara-mara, Can. — A large and very hand- 

 some tree, of slow growth ; the wood iard, durable, and fine- 

 veined, but apt to be faulty in the centre. The ornamental 

 character of the wood is well shown in the handsome specimen 

 contributed by Mr Eohde. It is used in the manufacture of oil 

 and sugar mills, and is largely planted around villages for its 

 fruit and shade. ("Wight, 77 ; Mysore, Bangalore, Guntur, Ma- 

 sulipatam, Palamkotta, Hort. G-ard. 50.) 



137. Tecoma stans. — An ornamental garden shrub. (Hort. 

 Gard. 6.) 



138. Tectona grandis. Teak, Eng. TSk-maram, Tarn. T6k 

 chettu, Tel. — A native of the mountainous parts of Malabar and 

 the country bordering the Godavari, the Moulmein and Eangoon 

 forests. This well-known and far-famed tree grows straight and 

 lofty, with cross-armed panicles of showy white flowers. It 

 seems to require eighty years to attain perfection. The wood is 

 very hard, but easily worked ; it is soon seasoned, and, being 

 oily, does not injure iron, and shrinks little. It is probably the 

 most durable timber known; hence its value in ship-building. 

 The Malabar teak is considered the lest, and is always most 

 valued in our Government dockyards. A valuable report by 

 Dr Falconer. on the teak forests of the Tenasserim coast was 

 published in the selection of Records of the Bengal Government 

 (No. ix. 1852). The present price of teak wood of long scantling 

 is Bs. 3 per cubic foot, double the ordinary rate. It is matter 

 of regret, considering the vast importance of teak timber to 

 England as a maritime nation, that the preservation of the teak 

 forests was so long disregarded. (Wight, 100 ; Mysore, Tinne- 

 velly, Coorg, Bajahmandri, Palghat, Bangalore, Mangalore, 

 Travancore, Penang, Canara.*) 



* " Teak timbers are not now procurable at Gwalior, the whole of the 

 teak trees in the forests of Kichiwara having been cut down by the Mali- 

 ratta soldiery. Numbers of young trees are now springing up, but many 

 years must elapse before they are mature. The only teak timbers now 



T 



