XX.] INDIAN TEAK. 123 
quarter to half an inch in diameter are found upon the 
surface, which often penetrate deeply and in all direc¬ 
tions. Such logs have generally a dull appearance, and 
are invariably brittle and of inferior quality. This 
defect is, I consider, indicative of an unhealthy if not 
dead state of the tree, before it was cut down. 
The ravages of the worm are detrimental to the 
strength and value of the timber, and logs so affected 
are not fit to be reduced to plank for use on bottoms 
of ships. 
Teak, notwithstanding its defects, is extensively used 
for ship-building in this countiy, in place of English and 
other Oaks, African and Sabicu timber, &c., &c., and 
the objection that was formerly made against its use in 
ships of war, as being unsuitable, on account of its lia¬ 
bility to splinter if struck by a shot, is no longer allowed 
to stand in the way of its employment. 
Teak timber is also used, to a moderate extent, for 
ship-building in the arsenals of foreign countries. 
The quantities of Teak timber received here annually 
from Moulmein have hitherto been very large, and so 
greatly in excess of that which it was calculated a few 
years ago could be drawn from the Tenasserim forests, 
that fears have been entertained the supply from that 
source must soon fail, and we notice a falling off in 
the shipments. This has, however, been supplemented 
by the shipment of considerable quantities of Teak from 
Rangoon, and it seems probable that that port will soon 
become the chief timber station for the export of this 
important article of commerce.* 
I do not, with this new source of supply open to us, 
* Between 1865 and 1870, inclusive, Moulmein sent to Europe 147,421 
loads, and Rangoon 28,821 load's of Teak timber. 
