THE VEGETABLE PRODUCTS OF SIAM7 357 



architecture, or as woods proper for ornamental purposes, sufficiently 

 known. I would mention, amongst others, the Takieng, which, as far as 

 regards size and quality, might become a rival to the teakwood, possessing, 

 moreover, the great advantage that it may be easily bent by artificial means. 

 Very little is known of the tree which produces the Takieng, and I think it 

 deserves a closer examination, how far it might be profitably employed for 

 naval architecture. I have seen, at the building sheds of the first king, a 

 log of that wood, which was being prepared for the construction of a war- 

 canoe, measuring 135 feet, perfectly sound and without a flaw. This 

 wood is brought from the south-eastern provinces, and generally used 

 for planking the bottoms of ships. It ought likewise to be stated, that trees 

 belonging to the Pine genus are not uncommon, principally on the eastern 

 coast of the Gulf of Siam, which might furnish liquid bitumen for the pre- 

 paration of pitch or tar. 



Of ornamental woods, useful for cabinet-makers and joiners, the follow- 

 ing form already articles of export : namely, rosewood, ebony, satin-wood, 

 krachi, and a number of others. The spontaneous produce of the forests are 

 entirely unknown to cabinet-makers, although their colour and suitableness 

 to receive a high polish would render them valuable additions to the 

 articles of export.* 



Rosewood is brought from the west coast of the Gulf of Siam : the 

 grain is not so close as South American wood generally. A large quantity 

 is exported yearly to Shanghai and other Chinese ports. The quality of 

 the Siamese ebony is said to be not very superior : a little is exported 

 every year by the junks. A small quantity of satin-wood is shipped to 

 China. None of a large size can be obtained. It is brought from the east 

 coast of the Gulf. 



The bamboo furnishes an excellent material, in its outer bark, for the 

 manufacture of furniture. The first king, in his saloon near the aviary, has 

 a set of chairs made of it, very nice in appearance. 



Amongst dye-woods, the principal is the sapan (Ccesalpinia Sappan), of 

 whieh large quantities are exported. It is the spontaneous produce of the 

 forests of the northern provinces of Siam and the frontier hills dividing 

 that country from Tenasserim. It has been asserted that the roots of this 

 tree afford the dyeing matter in a much larger quantity than either the 

 trunk or the branches. 



There are enormous forests of this wood in the upper parts of the 

 country, and down the west coast of the Gulf of Siam. The greater part 

 of the supplies brought to Bangkok comes from Soupanand Bang Chang, 

 also from the west coast of the Gulf.. From various places up the country 

 a considerable quantity of block sapan- wood has been floated down the 

 river. It has, however, only had the bark and a small portion of the 



* A collection of walking -sticks made of indigenous woods of Siam was given to 

 me as a present. The native names of these woods are — samchsan, krapi kao, quai 

 khanrad, praduket, marit, chin-chun (or rosewood), phra-ya-ya, mun kun, lamut 

 kao, dam (black dam), and maprao (cocoa-nxit wood). 



