94 Journal of an Expeditiotx [no. 3, new series, 
required for the first class plank was cut out of the stem, where it 
could be got with the least amount of labour which of course was 
at the sacrifice of the thicker part of the butt. To bring the timber 
into shape it is squared in some cases with the axe only, but in 
many others, it is chopped in notches, so that a fire being placed 
along the side, a flat face is given it by bumping off the outer surface. 
Many whole trees seem to be lost by this process, and I should 
think that the timber saved was materially injured by the operation, 
as the heat must destroy much of that essential oil on which the 
durability of teak seems so materially to depend. The timber has 
now to be cut into planks by the axe, and it will not be difficult 
to imagine how much wood must be cut to waste before this is 
effected, even if care were taken to economize it. The space 
between the planks is at least as broad as the planks themselves 
namely six inches ; and in splitting them off, numbers are so much 
injured as to be unfit to send out of the forest. I saw the remains of 
one of these trees that was said to have yielded about 6 or 7 planks, 
which, with a saw, would have been cut into 15 ; and this statement 
of 6 or 7 appeared to be merely a guess of what would have been 
considered a good number to be procured from such a stem ; in- 
cluding those which were split and useless. The butt of this tree 
which was abandoned was of the following dimensions. 
In addition to this, the head of about the same length is left upon 
the ground, and both will probably be burnt when the jungle is on 
fire during the next dry season. 
Whether the forests worked on account of Government are wast- 
ed in this reckless way or not I cannot say, but even if the same 
means are used, with every possible care, the loss must still be some- 
thing enormous, and when I see that so great importance is attach- 
