During the pre-colonial era teak was designated a royal monopoly and sizeable state revenues were derived from As of the faith Burmese kings were known to be most magnanimous in making supplies of teak available for the construction of monasteries and other works of merit Because of the high specific gravity and heaviness of green teak, the tree is usually killed through girdling ( chopping away the bark and part of the sapwood ) three years prior to felling Over that period of time it loses suffiacitent moisture to become lighter so it can be extracted in large sizes. It is dragged from the forest by elephants to the river bank, where it is rafted together with other logs and floated to its destination(Rodger 1936: 20-21)