115" Syrian Roofs. [April 



to their hearts, its chief object is to open, to the higher and 



more influential classes of the community, access to a new 



and superior quality of knowledge, through the medium of 



the English language and the sciences of Europe." 



****** 



V. — On Syrian Roofs. — By M. 



It has very erroneously been supposed that white ants 

 will not attack teak wood ; and hence that description of 

 timber is most generally employed, in the roofs of buildings. 

 We have, however, abundant proof to the contrary, and to 

 give one or two recent instances, I may mention that the organ 

 loft of St. Mary's Church, built of teak wood, was lately re- 

 newed, having been nearly destroyed by white ants ; in 

 St. George's Cathedral, also, they some years ago worked 

 their way to the organ, through the teak supports of the 

 gallery, and have lately attacked the sounding board of the 

 pulpit. 



In many parts of this Presidency, it is extremely difficult 

 to procure teak timber, except at a ruinous expense in land 

 carriage ; and in consequence, a very unsubstantial description 

 of roof is employed in private dwellings ; and in public 

 buildings, either the expense is incurred, of procuring teak 

 timber at whatever cost, or arches of masonry (almost as 

 expensive) are substituted ! True, the latter last a very long 

 time, but, the expense being in proportion to the span of the 

 arch, the accommodation is much cramped, to keep the cost 

 within moderate bounds. 



It is extraordinary, that these disadvantages and difficul- 

 ties, should not have, long since, led to the more general use 

 of the Syrian roof ; a method of construction in which no 

 wood whatever is employed, and which is moreover ex- 

 tremely light and durable. 



It is possible that the expense attending its first introduc- 

 tion, attributable to the novelty of the material, may have 

 operated with individuals, to prevent the trial being more 

 generally made : but, as regards public buildings, the same 

 cause can scarcely be assigned ; the material being the ordi- 



