xx.] INDIAN TEAK. II] 
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. 
