The Philippine Islands Part 33

_Balate_, or Trepang, is a species of sea-slug, for which the natives find a ready sale to the Chinese at good prices. The fish is preserved by being gutted, cooked, and sun-dried, and has a shrimp taste. It is found in greatest quant.i.ties off the Calamianes and Palauan Islands.

_Sapan-wood_ (_Caesalpina sappan_) (Tagalog, _Sibucao_, or _Sapang_), of an inferior quality compared with the Pernambuco wood, is a Philippine product found in most of the large islands. It is a short, unattractive tree, with epigeous branches spreading out in a straggling manner. The leaves are small and spa.r.s.e. The wood is hard, heavy, crooked, and full of knots. It sinks in water, and is susceptible of a fine polish. It is whitish when fresh cut, but a.s.sumes a deep red colour on exposure to the air. The only valuable portion is the heart of the branch, from which is taken a dye known in the trade as "false crimson," to distinguish it from the more permanent cochineal dye. The whole of the colouring-matter can be extracted with boiling water. It is usually s.h.i.+pped from Manila and Yloilo as dunnage, a small quant.i.ty coming also from Cebu. For figures of _Sapan-wood_ s.h.i.+pments, _vide_ Chap, x.x.xi., "Trade Statistics."

The _Saps_ of certain Philippine trees serve to give a polished coating to the smoothed surface of other woods. The kind which I have experimented with most successfully is that of the _Ipil_ tree (_Eperna decandria_). This gives a glazed covering very similar to j.a.pan-ware varnish. It takes better to the wood in a cold climate than in the tropics. I have tried it both in the Philippines and in Europe.

_Dye Saps_ are also numerous--for instance, that of the species _Ma.r.s.edenia_, called in Bicol dialect _Payanguit_ and _Aringuit_, with which hemp can be dyed blue; the juice of the skin of a root, known in Bicol as _Morinda_, is used for dyeing hemp red; the sap of the _Talisay_ tree (_Terminalia mauritiana_) gives a black dye, and that of the _Calumpit_ tree (_Terminalia edulis_) is a good straw-coloured dye.

_Hardwoods_.--These Islands are remarkably rich in valuable timber-trees. For some of the details which I will give of the properties and applicability of the varieties in general demand, I am indebted to Mr. H. G. Brown (of H. G. Brown & Co. Limited, [148] steam saw-mill proprietors in Tayabas Province), admitted to be the most experienced person in this branch of Philippine trade.

_Aranga_ (_Homalium_) gives logs up to 75 feet long by 24 inches square. It is specially used for sea piling and all kinds of marine work which is subject to the attacks of sea-worm (_Teredo navalis_).

_Acle_ (_Mimosa acle)_ gives logs up to 32 feet by 28 inches square. It is strong, tenacious, and durable, whilst it has the speciality of being difficult to burn, and is much used in house-building; it polishes well, and is much prized by the natives. It is supposed to be identical with the _Payengadu_ of Burmah.

_Anagap_ (_Pithecolobium montanum_, Benth.) gives logs up to 18 feet long by 16 inches square. It is sometimes used for house furniture and fittings and for other purposes where a light durable wood is wanted and is not exposed to sun and rain.

_Apiton_ (_Dipterocarpus griffithi_, Miq.) gives logs up to 70 feet long by 24 inches square. It contains a gum of which incense is made, is light when seasoned, works well, and will serve for furniture and general joiner's purposes.

_Antipolo_ (_Artocarpus incisa_) is much esteemed for vessels' outside planking, keels, etc. It is light, very strong, resists sea-worm (_Teredo navalis_) entirely, and effects of climate. It does not warp when once seasoned, and is a most valuable wood.

_An.o.bing_ (_Artocarpus ovata)_ is said to resist damp as well as _Molave_ does, but it is not appreciated as a good hardwood. It is plentiful, especially in the district of Laguna de Bay.

_Betis_ (_Azaola--Payena betis?_) gives logs up to 65 feet long by 20 inches square. It is proof against sea-worm, is used for salt or fresh water piling, piers, wharves, etc.; also for keels and many other parts of s.h.i.+p-building, and where a first-cla.s.s wood is indispensably necessary. It is somewhat scarce.

_Bat.i.tinan_ (_Lagerstroemia bat.i.tinan_) gives logs up to 40 feet long by 18 inches square. Is very strong, tough, and elastic; generally used for s.h.i.+ps' outside planking above water. It stands the climate well when properly seasoned; is a wood of the first quality, and can be used for any purpose except those involving interment in the ground or exposure to ravages of sea-worm. This wood is very much stronger than Teak, and could be used to advantage in its place for almost all purposes. It makes a good subst.i.tute for Black Walnut in furniture.

_Banaba_ (_Munchaustia speciosa--Lagerstremis speciosa?_)--a strong and useful wood much used in house- and s.h.i.+p-building; it is thoroughly reliable when seasoned, otherwise it shrinks and warps considerably.

_Bansalague_ (_Mimusops elengi_, Linn.) gives logs up to 45 feet long by 18 inches square. It seems to be known in Europe as bullet-tree wood. It can be driven like a bolt, and from this fact and its durability it is frequently used for treenails in s.h.i.+p-building in Manila, etc. It is also used for axe and other tool-handles, belaying-pins, etc., and on account of its compact, close grain it is admirably adapted for turning purposes; it lasts well in the ground.

_Bancal_ (_Nauclea gluberrima)_ gives logs up to 24 feet long by 16 inches square. This wood is of a yellow colour and very easy to work. It is used for general joiner's work in house-building, etc.

_Cedar_ (_Cedrela odorata_), of the same natural order as Mahogany (Linn.), gives logs up to 40 feet long by 35 inches square, and is used princ.i.p.ally for cigar-boxes. In the Colony it is known as _Calantas_. It makes very handsome inside house-fittings.

_Camagon_ or _Mabolo_ (a variety of _Diospyros philoshantera_) is procured in roughly rounded logs of 9 feet and upwards in length, by up to 12 inches in diameter. It is a close-grained, brittle wood, and takes a good polish; its colour is black with yellow streaks, and it is used for furniture-making. It might be termed the Philippine Coromandel wood, and is sometimes referred to as "false ebony."

_Dungon_ (a variety of _Herculia ambiformis--Sterculia cymbiformis_, Blanco) grows up to 50 feet long, giving logs up to 20 inches square. It is sometimes called _Ironwood_, is very hard and durable, and specially strong in resisting great transverse pressure, or carrying such weight as a heavy roof. It is used for keels on account of its great strength--it does not resist the sea-worm; it is applied to all purposes in Manila where more than ordinary strength is required when _Molave_ cannot be procured in sufficiently great lengths and _Ipil_ is unattainable.

_Dinglas_ (_Decandria--Bucida comintana_) gives logs up to 30 feet by 16 inches square--occasionally even larger sizes. This will also serve as a subst.i.tute for Black Walnut in furniture; it is very strong, hard, and durable.

_Ebony_ (_Diospyros nigra_) is also found in very limited quant.i.ties.

_Guijo_ (_Dipterocarpus guijo_) gives logs up to 75 feet long by 24 inches square--is very strong, tough and elastic. In Manila this wood is invariably used for carriage wheels and shafts. In Hong-Kong it is used, amongst other purposes, for wharf-decks or flooring.

_Ipil_ (_Eperna decandria_) gives logs up to 50 feet long by 26 inches square. It has all the good qualities of _Molave_, except resistance to sea-worm (in which respect it is the same as Teak), and may be as much relied on for duration under ground; for sleepers it equals _Molave_.

_Lanete_ (_Anaser laneti_) gives logs up to 25 feet long by 18 inches square. It is useful for sculpture, musical instruments, decoration, turning, and cabinet purposes.

_Lauan_ (_Dipterocarpus thurifera_) is obtained in sizes the same as _Guijo_. It is a light, useful wood, and easily worked. It is said that the outside planks of the old Philippine-Mexican galleons were of this wood because it did not split with shot.

_Molave_ (_Vitex geniculata_) (Tagalog, _Molauin_), gives logs up to 35 feet long by 24 inches square. It resists sea-worm (_Teredo navalis_), white ants (_Termes_), and action of climate, and consequently is specially valuable for work on the surface of or under ground, and generally for all purposes where an extra strong and durable wood is required. Often growing crooked, it is commonly used (where produced and in adjacent countries) for frames of vessels. Owing to its imperviousness to ligniperdous insects and climate, it cannot possibly be surpa.s.sed for such purposes as railway-sleepers. This wood is practically everlasting, and is deservedly called by the natives, "Queen of the Woods." It pays better to sell _Molave_ in baulks or logs, rather than sawn to specification, because this tree has the great defect of being subject to heart-cup.

Mr. Thomas Laslett, in his work on timber, [149] says, in reference to _Molave_, "It can be recommended to notice as being fit to supplement any of the hardwoods in present use for constructive purposes." From the same work I have extracted the following record of experiments made by Mr. Laslett with this wood:--

TENSILE EXPERIMENTS.--AVERAGE OF FIVE SPECIMENS

Dimensions of each piece. 2'' 2'' 30''

Specific gravity. 1021.6 Weight the piece broke with. 31,248 lbs.

Direct cohesion one square inch. 7,812

TRANSVERSE EXPERIMENTS.--AVERAGE OF THREE SPECIMENS

_Deflections_.

Total weight required to break each piece. 1.25 lbs.

Specific gravity. .166 Weight reduced to specific gravity 1,000. 5.166 Weight required to break one square inch. 1,243.3 lbs.

With the apparatus weighing 390 lbs. 1013 After the weight was removed 1231 At the crisis of breaking. 310.83

N.B.--It breaks on test with a scarf-like fracture.

_Mangachapuy_ (_Dipterocarpus mangachapuy--Vatica apteranthera_) gives logs up to 55 feet long by 20 inches square. It is very elastic and withstands the climate, when seasoned, as well as Teak. It is used in Manila for masts and decks of vessels and for all work exposed to sun and rain. It is much esteemed and in great demand by those who know its good qualities.

_Macasin_ can be used for interior house work and floors. It is somewhat inferior to _Banaba_, but supplies its place when _Banaba_ is scarce. It can be got in greater length and square than _Banaba_.

_Malatapay_ (a variety of _Diospyros philoshantera_), veined black and red. It resembles _Camagon_.

_Mancono_ is a very hard wood found in Mindanao Island; it is cla.s.sed as a species of lignum-vitae.

_Narra_ (_Pterocarpus palidus santalinus_) gives logs up to 35 feet long by 26 inches square. It is the Mahogany of the Philippines, inasmuch as it is always employed in Manila in the manufacture of furniture, for notwithstanding its somewhat open grain, it polishes well, and is prettily marked. There is a variety of shades in different logs varying from straw colour to blood-red, the former being more common; all are, however, equally esteemed. It is a first-rate wood for general purposes. In the London market it is cla.s.sed with the _Padouk_ of Burmah.

_Palo Maria de Playa_ (_P. Polyandria--Calophyllum inophyllum_) (Tagalog, _Dangcalan_), is greatly appreciated for crooks and curves, but as a rule cannot be found of suitable dimensions for large vessels. It is better than _Molave_ for this purpose, for, due to the absence of acrid juices, iron bolts do not corrode in it. It is exceedingly tough and not so heavy as _Molave_.

_Supa_ (_Sindora wallichii_, Benth.) gives logs up to 40 feet long by 28 inches square. It produces an oil, and is a strong wood for general purposes, polishes well and can be used advantageously for house decorations and furniture.

_Tindalo_ (_Eperna rhomboidea_) is about the same as _Acle_ in its princ.i.p.al features, but not notable for resisting fire. It is useful for general purposes, and in particular for decorations and furniture. It is somewhat brittle, and takes a high polish.

_Yacal_ (_Dipterocarpus plagatus_) gives logs up to 50 feet long by 22 inches square. It is proof against white ants, has great strength and tenacity, and is much valued in Manila for house-building, etc.

Natives employed in the felling of timber often become very expert in the selection and appreciation of the standing trunks.

The approximate order of resistance of the best woods, estimated by their practical employment and not by theoretical comparative experiments, would be as follows, viz.:--

HARDWOOD STRAINS

Tensile Strain. Transverse Strain.