Class IV.]
145
29. Silverballi, Yellow (Aec-tandra sp. ?) [92, 92a.]
30. Silverballi, Brown. [93.]-
31. Silverballi, Brown. [94.]-
31.* Silbadani. [117/, 117///.]
32. Simiri, or Locust tree(Jfymentua Courban 7, L.)[1 17 n, 117o.]
33. Suradanni. [106, 106a.]-
31. Tacouba, or Heart ofWallaba. [906.]
33. Tiger-wood.
[117, 117a.]
30. Too Roo. [115, 115a.]
37. Torcli-wood. [114.]
3S. Towraneroo, or BastardBully tree. [117/^, 117^.]
39. Wadaduri, or Monkey-pot tree (lecythis gran-diffora , Aubl.) [1176,117/.]
40. Wamara, or brown ebony.[88, 88a.]
41. Wallaba (Eperua falcata,Aubl.) [90, 90a.]
"WOODS OF BRITISH GUIANA— continued.
resembles in its properties the Mora, being excellent for ship-building, mill-timbers,and plank, and may be had from 16 to 20 inches square, from 20 to 40 feet long.
A rather soft, open-grained, light wood; from the River Demerara.
This wood is supposed to be derived from a species of Xectandra. It is light, and floats,and contains a bitter principle, which protects it from the attacks of worms. lieneeit is much used for the outside planking of colony craft: it is also used for booms andmasts, it grows to a great size, but then it is often hollow. It will, however, squaresound from 10 to 14 inches, from 40 to 50 feet long.
A fine, close-grained, moderately hard, and rather heavy wood.
Portion of the planking of a drogher. This specimen formed part of the outside plank-ing of a drogner, employed in the conveyance of produce in this colony, and is knownto have been exposed to the action of salt water during a period of 20 years.
Although bearing a similar label to the foregoing, its specific identity therewith is doubt-ful; it differs in colour, is more open-grained, and much lighter. It is, however,possible that this specimen may represent the alburuum, and 93 the duramen of thesame tree ; if so. it must attain a very large size.
Portion of the planking of a punt. This specimen formed part of the bottom of a punt,known to have been used in the Demerara River for a period of 30 years and upwards.
Shows a diameter of 7 inches. In bark. A fine, close-grained, moderately hard, andrather heavy wood; bark smooth, much resembling that of common beach; from theRiver Demerara.
This wood is used for furniture. The specimens sent are from a tree supposed to be about20 years old.
Shows a diameter of 19£ inches. In bark. A rather open-grained, though hard, heavywood; from the River Demerara.
The tree producing this wood is Jfymenaa Courbaril , Linn., and is plentiful in variousparts of the colony. It often attains a height of from 60 to 80 feet, with a trunk from7 to 8 feet in diameter. The wood is hard and compact, and its durability recommendsit for mill-rollers and similar purposes. The Indians make “woodskins” out of thebark. The specimens sent are from a tree supposed to be about 100 years old.
Shows a diameter of 9 inches. Jn bark. A moderately hard, rather heavy, but not even-grained wood. Alburnum not perceptibly lighter in colour than the duramen; fromthe River Demerara.
It is much used for timbers, rails, and covering boards for colony craft, and for navesand felloes of wheels; it is also made into canoes by the Indians. It will square from14 to 18 inclies, from 30 to 40 feet long.
From the River Berbice. This wood is the heart of the upper portion of the trunks of"Wallaba trees which have been felled iu the forests, and from which the sapwood hasdecayed. These arc much used as paling-posts, and for other out-door purposes, beiugfound to be so durable as to be almost imperishable. They arc about to be used assleepers on the Demerara Railway, for which purpose it is supposed they will prove tobe peculiarly well adapted. The defect of Wallaba and of its Tacouba, is its inabilityto bear great lateral strain ; it should not, therefore, be used for beams longer than 12feet.
8]- inch x 5 inch X 2 inch. Shows heart-wood only. A fine, close, even-grained, veryhard, and ponderous wood, of a bright red chestnut colour, remarkable for its isolatedlunate black spots, which, however, sometimes assume an irregular form; susceptibleof a high polish ; from the River Demerara.
In tbe printed Catalogue accompanying the collection, this wood is stated to be the“ heart-wood of the itikiribouraballi;” on comparing it with the specimens of the lat-ter, Nos. 104, and 104a, it is manifest that the two woods are totally distinct. Air. Bee,to whom the circumstance was pointed out, confirmed this fact, observing that thespecimens of Tiger-wood now under consideration were cut from a tree undoubtedlyspecifically distinct from that which yields the Itikiribouraballi.
A species of palm ; from the River Demerara.
It grows to the height of from 50 to 70 feet. Its woody outside is used by the cabinet-makers for inlaid work, walking-sticks, billiard-cues, Sec.
Supposed to be obtained from a species of Amyris, or Idea. When beaten so as toseparate the fibres, the branches are used as torches by the Indians.
Shows a diameter of 10 inches. In bark. A fine, close, even-grained, hard, heavy wood ;from the River Demerara.
It is very plentiful, and is used for framing-timber, spokes, &c. It will square 25 inches,from 40 to 50 feet long. The specimens sent are from a tree supposed to be about 50years old.
Shows a diameter of 10 inches. In bark. A close-grained, tolerably hard, and heavywood, presenting, however, numerous open cells; heart-wood bright amber yellow,recent layers narrow, white; from the River Demerara.
The tree which produces this timber, is the Lccythis grandvflora , Aubl., and is plentiful.The wood is used for furniture, staves, &c. The specimens sent are from a tree sup-posed to be about 25 years old.
Shows a diameter of 12 inches. In bark. A remarkably fine, close-grained, hard, heavywood. Heart-wood of a beautiful deep Vandyke brown; recent layers broad (3 inches),dirty yellow. From the River Demerara.
This wood is hard and cross-grained, consequently not apt to split; it would, therefore,answer various purposes in naval architecture. It may be had from 6 to 12 inchessquare, and from 40 to 60 feet long. The Indians make war-clubs of it. The spe-cimens sent are from a tree supposed to be about 20 years old.
Shows a diameter of 9 inches. In bark. Wood hard and heavy, though rather open^grained. Duramen bright red-brown; recent layers narrow, pale reddish-yellow.From the River Essequibo.
This wood is produced from a tree very abundant throughout the colony. It is hard,splits freely, and is very durable from being impregnated with a resinous oil. It isused for house-frames, palings, shingles, staves, &c. It has been ascertained that aroof well shingled with this wood will last upwards of 40 years. It may be had from15 to 20 inches square, from 30 to 40 feet long.
L