255 
in stiffness though it possesses the quality of toughness in a high 
^wlth respect to durability it is equal to and probably superior 
to any wood in the Straits. Newton cites as examples that in 
opening up the roof of the Town Hall in Singapore in 1879, it was 
found that the tie beams of Kumpas had been entirely destroyed 
by termites, which not one piece of Tampims was touched, and all 
the timbers were used in the new roof. The Town Hall was then 
20 years old. Again when Crawford Bridge was rebuilt the main 
timbers were found to be Tampinis in excellent condition and the 
bridge being not less than 30 years old. Several of the. older 
houses in Singapore have Tampinis beams and posts, among 
which is the Botanic Gardens House. The beams here are as 
sound as the day they were put up. The wood in fact is proof 
against fungus, termites and teredo. 
Besides its use for building, smaller stems are in much request 
for carrying poles, gambier stirrers and such like articles, where 
strength is required. Veth (Midden Sumatra) says it is used lot 
simar mills, and wheels. The tree grows in forest and secondary 
scrub, shooting up again when the main stem is felled, but as it is 
often cut again and again for carrying poles and such things, it is 
gradually dying out. ‘ In very dense woods it produces single un- 
branched stems of large size but where exposed on in light woods, 
it is very apt to throw up a large number of stems and branch very 
low down. 
Ficus . 
A large genus of trees and shrubs some of very large size. The 
wood is as a rule almost useless, even as firewood, it is soft and 
usually white with no distinct heartwood. Structurally it is 
mo-t remarkable for the distinctness of the rings of growth, which 
n ay be connected with the fact that at least some of the Figs have 
a habit of completely shedding their leaves and so “ wintering 
for a short time but the period of absolute bareness of the tree is 
usually very short, not more than a day or two. Some few of the 
smaller kinds produce a fibre in the bark (F. chartucea,) and all con- 
tain a latex which, however, only produces caoutchouc in one or two 
species such as the well known r . elastica Getah Rambong. 
F. brae teat a, Wall. 
Large shrub or small tree. ’Wood soft and rather light splits 
readily, light reddish fawn colour, pores rather large scattered 
some partitioned, rings distinct very narrow about 5° inch, 
rays obscure fine. Weight 31 lbs. 8 ozs. 
F. Ben jam ina , L. Wa ri n gin . 
A common cultivated tree, attaining a fairly large size but with 
a rather thick short trunk. Wood very light, pale reddish fawn and 
white, rings distinct broader than the last and wavy, pores large not 
very numern b. Weight 41 lbs. 10 ozs. 
