KAYU. MALAY. Wood, timber, a tree. It is always prefixed to the natnes of timber trees ; hence Kayu amballo, a timber tree Of Bawean. Kayu-api-api, Rhisophora gymnorhiza, man grove.
Kayu-araug, charcoal.
Kayu balean wood is the most esteemed amongst the natives of Borneo, on account of its hardness and durability. The tree is of the largest size, of quick and vigorous growth, and abundant in the low damp forests in the neighbourhood of the sea and of large rivers. It is much used by the natives for posts of their houses, which amongst the Dyak are handed down from father to son for many generations. Posts, in the river for ages, are as hard when cut as those fresh taken from the forest. The water worm (teredo) attacks it. but does not cause it to rot. Under the earth it equally resists the effects of the atmosphere and white ants. This is sought after by the Chinese, and is a source of considerable trade.
Kayu bidarru, a beautiful yellow wood of Borneo, of a very agreeable odour. It is plentiful, and, being very hard and durable, is much esteemed for posts of houses and other underground pur poses.
Kayu-bin, Terminalia chebula, Betz.
Kayu bintangur. Several kinds of the goon of India grow in Borneo. They are called by the natives bintangur, and are valued in shipbuilding. One seems to be Calophyllum inophyllum.
Kayu boka, or Amboyna wood, and the Lingoa wood of commerce, are the produce of the same tree, the Pterospermum Indicum. The tree throws out knotty excrescences or burrs, which are sawn off in slabs 2 to 4 feet long, and 2 to 8 inches thick, which are much esteemed for small boxes, writing-desks, and other ornamental fancy work. Of late years its estimation seems to have decreased in Europe, but it is still much valued by the Chinese. It is brought from Ceram, New Guinea, Aru, and other islands of the Moluccas. It resembles the hue of the yew, is very hard and full of curls, the colour being reddish-brown, varying to orange. In Singapore it is sold by weight. Large slabs are obtainable from the lower part of the tree by taking advantage of the spurs or lateral growths. They can sometimes be had as large as nine feet in diameter. It is very
durable, takes a considerable polish, is very abundant, and may be had in any quantity.
Kayu bung ngat of Cochin-China, Emblic myrobalan.
Kayu dungun grows on the banks of rivers, and though the timber is soft, the large buttress like supports at the base of the tree are very hard, and are valuable for gun-carriages and other purposes.
Kayu gadis wood possesses the flavour and qualities of the sassafras, and is used for the same purposes in medicine. It is very common in the plains near Bencoolen.
Kayu gahru is the eagle-wood, aloes-wood, Aquilaria agallocha, Roxb., agallocha wood, lignum aloes, again wood, and calambak of commerce. If of good quality it should melt in the fire like wax, yielding an agreeable, odour. A very high artificial value is placed on thy \ better qualities of this product by the natives of the east ; the first quality selling at £40, 16s. 8d.,,per 133* lbs. avoird. at Malacca, the second quality at £25, 10s. per 1333 lbs., and the third quality at £3, 2s. per 1333 lbs.
Kayu-jelutong is a large growing tree of Borneo, with verticillate leaves, and a bark which, on being wounded, emits plentifully a white milk, which is inspissated by boiling, but has not yet been discovered to be of any use. The timber it produces, though large, is not esteemed by the natives, on account of its early decay when ex posed to the rain and sun. It is white, and, being very soft and easily worked, it is much used by the poorer Malays for the sides of their houses, which are protected from the rain by the overhanging roofs.
Kayu kapur, a close-grained and durable timber of Borneo, much valued for boat-building purposes.
Kayu kapur barns. The timber of the Kapur barus, or true camphor tree, known to botanists as the Dryobalanops camphora, Cole., is also esteemed, but, excepting when charged with the valuable drug, it does not emit the camphor smell, as does the timber of the Laurus camphora, of which the Chinese manufacture trunks and boxes, which preserve whatever is put into them from the attacks of insects of all kinds, particularly of the small ants, which are so troublesome in hot countries.