184 
TIMBEE 
by insects than the Rangoon timber and is not so well con- 
verted ; it is, however, much cheaper, not running to much 
more than half the cost of Eangoon, and obtains a ready 
market. Some of the better quality of Java teak is very 
suitable for certain classes of work where mild-natured 
teak is not essential, but a large quantity of poor stuff is 
exported. Logs and planks are also brought from Bangkok 
and the price is much the same as Moulmein or Eangoon. 
Great quantities of teak railway keys are now imported. 
The total quantity of teak exported from Burma in 
1904-5 was 135,385 tons, as against 156,039 tons in the 
previous year, and of this 87,068 tons were shipped to 
British India and 34,407 tons, or 25 per cent, of the total, 
were exported to the United Kingdom. The supply of 
Rangoon teak is not equal to the demand ; all that can be 
got is quickly bought up. Teak is classed highest of all 
timbers at Lloyd's.^ 
Weight, well seasoned, from 37 to 52 lbs. per cubic foot. 
In connection with teak may be mentioned the curious 
circumstance that much emphasis is laid by different forest 
officials on the damage to the timber caused by careful 
protection of the forests from fire, which is in contrast 
to what is the case in America and shows that like causes 
do not produce like effects. From much evidence bearing 
on this point, the following remarks made by Mr. Troup in 
the Indian Forester will suffice: " It is impossible by mere 
figures, however accurate ... to give any idea of the, 
terrible destruction which is being wrought in our once 
valuable moist mixed forests by prolonged fire protection. 
... We are most certainly exterminating our teak by fire 
1 Although such a large quantity of teak is used for constructive 
purposes m India, the author cannot find any carefully recorded series 
of experiments on large pieces of timber. The modulus of rupture is 
generally assumed as between 12,000 and 13,000 lbs. per square inch 
