94: 



Journal of an Expedition [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 burning 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 1 5 ; 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 w : hich 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- 



