70 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 





&H*-~J '■.. M ?' 



erf; •'■''■' I '«•* ' 



\ ■ ;:-'*,"-v v " •*SV*, 



DRIVING THROUGH A TEAK FOREST NEAR MEDAN, AN IMPORTANT SEAPORT ON THE 



NORTHEAST COAST OE SUMATRA 



Of all the timbers of the world, teak is the most valuable. Its durability is remarkable, 

 rafters in some of the temples of India having served their purpose for more than a thou- 

 sand years. It is used for shipbuilding and interior paneling and in the manufacture of 

 furniture. It can be easily worked and is susceptible of a high polish. When properly sea- 

 soned, it neither cracks, shrinks, nor alters its shape. The teak is not one of the giants of 

 the jungle, however, for it seldom attains a height greater than 150 feet. 



one rising- upright amidships, the other 

 with a weird forward rake near the 

 sharp-pointed bow. Beyond, the steamer 

 rounded a bend in the river and tied up 

 to the dock, where groups of men in 

 immaculate white suits and white topees 

 awaited its arrival. 



LANDING LABOR FOR SUMATRA 



While waiting to supervise the unload- 

 ing of my automobile, I watched all the 



fourth-class passengers as they were 

 counted, checked off, and landed. 



The latter process, however, was so 

 interesting that I did not begrudge the 

 time it required. 



All the deck space not reserved for 

 first-cabin passengers was packed with 

 coolies from Batavia and littered with 

 their effects. A considerable number of 

 them had camped in. on, and under my 

 motor — chattering, smoking, combing 



