1847.] Report on the Timber Trees of Bengal. 1103 



is considered a valuable wood in ship building. Hamilton describes it 

 as growing of 6 feet girth in Goalpara, much used in building, but soft. 

 Capt. Hannay, in describing the wood in Assam, says it is well known 

 at Dacca and is admirably adapted for that portion of boats under 

 water ; well seasoned, it is a good wood. The Jarool is very scarce. I 

 have seen the tree growing to a great size in the forest of Malabar, 

 where it is not much esteemed. 



21. Assun — Terminalia tomentosa. W. and A., — Arjun, Arjuna, 

 W. and A. — T. bellerica, T. calappa, &c. &c. are all light coloured tough 

 useful timber, not very ornamental, but often for their great size very 

 useful. Hari is a common name of the different species amongst 

 natives. They are to be found all over India, and generally valued where 

 they grow. Roxburgh mentions one species as growing to such a 

 size as to be made into solid wheels for Buffalo carts. The Assuirs 

 were foundry Capt. Baker to surpass every other tree in elasticity, — to 

 break with 903 1fcs. with specific gravity of 986. Capt. Hannay speaks 

 in the highest terms of two species, but he describes the wood as very 

 light, whereas from the specific gravity mentioned above, it is evidently 

 a very heavy wood ; — he says the wood has the quality of standing the 

 weather well, and kept constantly in water, to harden and get black 

 coloured. It appears to me admirably adapted for oars and ship's 

 spars. 



The above are, I believe, the most valuable timber trees in Bengal, 

 and the number is indeed a large one, to which I could have added as 

 many more nearly as good, plainly showing that there is no country 

 in the world to surpass this in its timber produce. I regret much that 

 my approaching departure for England renders it impossible for me to 

 make this list as complete as I could have wished. The subject is a 

 deeply interesting one, and having paid great attention to it in India, I 

 hoped some little advantage may have been derived from my observations. 

 There are several trees no doubt possessed of equally valuable properties, 

 but they are only known by uncertain native names. I would respectfully 

 suggest that Government be requested to direct their officers located in 

 favourable positions to send in leaves, flowers and fruit of the trees reputed 

 in their neighbourhood to be useful for timber. As it may be seen above 

 that peculiar uses seem to run in the same natural family, a botanist 



could in every case indicate the probable value of the timber. I would 



7 d 



