TEAK-TREE. MANGOS. 59 
An extract of nux vomica has lately been imported 
from India; but it is not generally known for what 
purpose. 
72. The TEAK-TREE (Tectonia grandis) is a valuable 
species of timber, which grows in the forests of the. East 
Indies. 
This tree attains the height of fifty feet and upwards. 
Its leaves are somezohat oval, slightly scalloped, rough on the 
upper side, and clad with a white down beneath ; and itsflozecrs 
are in bunches, small, white, arid fragrant. 
For the building of ships, teak-wood is esteemed su- 
perior to every kind of timber except oak. It is said 
to be almost incorruptible in water; and its bitterness 
preserves it from the attack of worms. For all the 
purposes of carpentry, teak is the most useful timber 
that is produced in Asia. It is easily wrought, and is 
peculiarly strong and durable. That which grows on 
the coast of Malabar is considered the best ; but the 
greatest quantity is obtained from Pegu. The former 
is nearly all hill timber, whereas the latter is the pro- 
duce of a low and flat country. In India much of the 
furniture is made of teak wood. 
The attention of government has of late been called 
to the cultivation of this timber ; and great encourage- 
ment is now given to an extensive propagation of it. 
In the present scarcity of oak timber in England, the 
increase of teak in the East is become an object of im- 
portance to the prosperity of our navy. Its culture has 
also been recommended in our West Indian islands, 
the climate and soil of which are considered nearly 
similar to those of its native country. 
73. MANGOS, as they are imported into this country, 
are the unripe fruit of an East Indian tree (Mangifera Indica) 
pickled in vinegar. 
The mango tree grozcs to a great size, and has spear-shaped 
leaves, each eight or nine indies long, and two inches wide. 
The jftowers spring, in a loose kind if bunch, from the ex- 
tremity of the stems. 
