reddish, and of bitter astringent flavour; branches numerous, the lower ones spreading, and the upper ascending, leaves alternate, abruptly pinnate, about a foot long, leaflets opposite, stalked obtuse and imarginate; panicle large, terminal diffuse, bearing numerous small inodorous flowers; fruit large, greyish. The wood is of a dull red colour, and harder and heavier than common Mahogany. The natives of India give it the name of Soymida, and account it the most lasting Timber their country produces, and therefore they employ it in their sacred buildings, and upon every occasion where they wish to combine strength with durability. Dr. Roxburg, the discoverer of this species, states that the bark is superior in virtue to that of the Peruvian, and Dr. Wright, of Jamaica, asserts that its apparent qualities are exactly the same as those of the Mahogany of commerce. The third species of Mahogany is the Chloroxylon; it is chiefly found in Bengal, and it does not vary materially in its botanical character from species No. 1 and 2; the tree is not so large; the wood is of a deep yellow colour, nearly the same as Boxwood and from which it does not differ much in point of durability. The foregoing description of the several species of Mahogany are to be found at large in Rees' Cyclopædia, article Swietenia." MAHOGANY CUTTING IN HONDURAS AND CUBA. The following is an account of the manner of cutting and shipping the Mahogany in Honduras, given in the Parliamentary Book on the Spanish American Republics, by Mr. Macgregor; and by other authorities. The season for cutting the Mahogany usually commences about the month of August. Gangs of labourers are employed, consisting of twenty ta fifty each, under the direction of a captain, or conductor; each gang has also a person belonging to it termed the huntsman, who is despatched about the beginning of that month, to search the woods. He cuts his way through the thickest parts of the forest, and climbs the tallest tree he can find, from which he minutely surveys the surrounding country. At this season the leaves of the Mahogany tree are invariably of a yellow reddish hue, and an eye accustomed to this kind of exercise can, at a great distance, discern the places where the wood is most abundant. He now descends, and to such places his steps are directed, without compass or other guide than what observation has imprinted on his recollection, and he seldom fails to reach the exact spot to which he aims. The tree is commonly cut about 10 or 12 feet from the ground, and a stage is erected around it for the axe-men, who are employed in levelling it. A sufficient number of trees being felled to occupy the gang during the season, they commence opening roads to the nearest river, which operation usually amounts to two-thirds of the labour and expense of bringing the Mahogany to a place of shipment. If the trees are much dispersed, miles of road and many bridges are made towards them. The roads being cleared of all brushwood, hoes, pickaxes and sledge hammers are required to level down the hillocks and break the rocks, and loosen the stumps which impede the wheeled trucks on which the logs are carried. The roads being formed generally by the end of December, the cross cutting, as it is called, commences; and when the sawing is completed, the logs are placed in whatever position will admit of the largest square being formed according to the shape which the end of each log presents. They are then reduced by means of the axe, from the round or natural form, into the square; although some of the smaller logs are brought out in the round, yet, with the larger description, the making them square is essential, not only to lessen their weight, but also prevent their rolling on the truck or carriage. |