Before timber is employed for ships, or indeed for constructions of any
kind, it is thoroughly seasoned by being exposed to the sun at
particular hours of the day. Timbers that have passed through this
process never shrink or warp.
In accordance with my directions, wood cannot be used in shipbuilding
until so prepared that no insects will touch it.
In certain parts of the bottom of the great ravine is a liquid, the
admixture of refuse of all kinds. After some years this liquid becomes
of a golden colour for the depth of about two inches only; beneath, it
is of a muddy brown. It was accidentally discovered that the golden
liquor so hardened wood that no insect could make any impression upon
it, and no moisture could penetrate the fibres. There is some difficulty
in skimming and obtaining the liquid in a pure state; but the operation
having been performed, it is carefully preserved in large vats and
remains ready for use.
The timber having been thoroughly seasoned in the sun, each plank is cut
and shaped to the exact form required, and is then soaked in this
liquid. If the process of cutting were delayed till after the timber had
been soaked, the parts where the cuttings had been made would be
unprotected from the insects. If the soaking were delayed until after
the ship had been put together, the four sides of each of the timbers
where it is joined to other timbers, would in like manner be
unprotected, and the insects would eat their way between. The care
exercised was the more necessary, as it was essential that the wood
under the hippopotamus hide should be preserved from internal as well as
external influences. If the wood had shrunk after it had been once
covered, parts of the hide would become slack, and serious
inconveniences would have ensued. I never knew one of our Swan vessels
to spring a leak or to wear out. The vessels built under my rule will
exist unimpaired for many centuries, whilst those built under the former
system were broken to pieces on account of their foulness and leakage,
chiefly caused by the ravages of insects.