for Furniture were deemed to be only raw material; the duties were gradually reduced, until at length, in the year 1844---1845, Sir Robert Peel caused the whole of them to be totally abolished—and perhaps in no other trade more than that of Mahogany and other fine Timber, has the wisdom of these measures been, in so short a time, demonstrated. It was long known that these valuable Woods, obtained within the tropics, possessed qualities which admirably adapted them for purposes to which the heavy duties alone prevented their extension: such as House and Church-building, Railways, and in a remarkable degree, they have been applied to Ship-building, Carriages, and ordinary Furniture: and now observe the wonderful stimulus this has produced, when we state that the import of Mahogany into this Port alone, which was 3388 tons in 1842, was in 1845, increased to 14,500 tons.

But, if such have been the extraordinary results of the recent abolition of duty, what a still more magnificent prospect opens to view, when, within two short years only, the world has been electrified by the stupendous discovery of mineral treasures in California, which, almost fabulous as it may appear, has already caused the commerce on the shores of the Atlantic to be augmented by one-fourth of the total of what it was, to all parts of the world, in 1847, and has brought the whole of the Western Coast of America, both North and South, to the knowledge of, and subject to, the energetic action of all the civilized nations of the earth.

Before this discovery, it is true, the minds of all enlightened Philanthropists, and a few keen-sighted statesmen, have been, more or less, at different epochs, so intimately persuaded of the great advantages that would result from facilitating the transit of commerce across the American Isthmus, that many speculations have been set on foot for effecting this, either by canals or railroads, or

even common macadamized roads; but as these advantages were only theoretically demonstrable, the projects either languished or were totally abandoned, from the impossibility of inducing capitalists to advance the requisite funds.

But now with the certainty that the mineral wealth of California is no longer a dream, (although gross exaggeration is ever to be found in connection with mining pursuits), and that it is producing a revolution in commerce, and changing the relations, and exciting the energies of every maritime state, it seems that the time is come, in the inscrutable designs of Providence, that the enduring benefits of civilization are to be dispensed to the whole of the Western Continents of America. Although their outlines have been geographically known for three hundred years, their interior has nearly been a terra incognita, thinly inhabited by ignorant and savage tribes-little explored by men of science, and unvisited by friendly traders, their condition and resources have been concealed, or useless to man.

Now all this is rapidly changing; and it is felt that these barriers must be broken through and become the highways of the world. Happily, instead of rival nations exhausting their resources in a vain endeavour to obtain the sole possession of these countries, they are seen peacefully joining hands, and binding themselves by treaty stipulations, to combine their powers to promote, invite, and protect their respective subjects for the accomplishment of these desirable communications, so that doubts no longer exist but that one, if not all of the three grand routes of Panama, Nicaragua and Tehuantepec will, at no distant day, be thrown open to the commerce of the world.

Of necessity, therefore, the exploration and colonization of these beautiful countries, all situated within the tropic of Cancer, will be immediately presented to the view of the tens of thousands traversing the Isthmus in search

of settlements in the New World, and they cannot fail being struck with the unbounded sources of wealth they present, rendering their proceeding further to the arid and inclement regions of the far North-west, quite unnecessary.

It is a curious but undoubted fact, that precisely this region, which must be traversed to reach California and the West Coast of America, is that to which the growth of Mahogany is limited by nature on that Continent; and then it follows as a consequence, that its dense and extensive woods must be opened out; and that they will yield materials of inestimable value, amply sufficient to supply for ages the demand of all Europe.

Thus it appears that the present moment is favourable for directing the attention of the Commercial World to these new sources of supply of Mahogany; as well as repeating to the notice of our friends much of what we have laid before them in the past years, then restricted more especially to the productions of British Honduras and the West India Islands; adding thereto what the occasion seems to call for, and which may be of general interest, a short account of the countries producing the Mahogany tree, its various qualities, how it is cut, collected and prepared for sale; when it was first brought into notice; its present uses and applications, and how such an important trade is susceptible of improvement and of unlimited extension. Each of these subjects will be treated of under separate heads, accompanied by such diagrams and illustrations as may render technical terms intelligible to the general reader; and which it is presumed may not be without utility, or curiosity, to those of our friends who may be practically engaged in the business.

CHAPTER I.

:

Region in which the Mahogany Tree grows the Islands of Jamaica, Cuba, St. Domingo, and Porto Rico, with their principal ports. Countries in which Mahogany is found in the Great American Isthmus, from the Strait of Darien to Tehuantepec, in Mexico. General aspect, climate, soil and productions of the Region in which the Mahogany and other fine Forest Trees abound. Enumeration of these latter, distinguishing those already known to the Wood Trade, from those not yet introduced into use.

The region in which the Mahogany Tree is most abundant, and found to grow in great perfection, is comprised between the Latitudes of 11° and 23° 10′ North, and it includes within these limits, the following countries: The group of the large Islands in the Caribbean Sea, of Jamaica, Cuba, Saint Domingo, and Porto Rico, which are between the north latitudes of 17° 40' and 23° 10', and between 65° 45' and 85° of west longitude from Greenwich; and as they are all traversed by ranges of high mountains, their climate and productions, both vegetable and mineral, are nearly the same. The Mahogany, and other fine and hard woods are found in them all, and of superior quality to those of the adjacent Continent of America, owing, no doubt, to their being found in places considerably elevated above the level of the sea, or on rocky or arid ground. Their other productions are similar to what are met with in all the West India Islands, as well as on the main land in the same latitudes, and therefore one general enumeration will suffice for them all, as will be hereafter particularized. Any difference that there may be in the mode of cutting and preparing their Mahogany for export, from what is described under the head of Honduras, will be

noticed in speaking of the various kinds of Wood sent to this market. The following is a list of the several Ports in these Islands, which are resorted to for Mahogany and other products.

In CUBA,to the North, are the harbours and roadsteads of Honda Bay, Havana (the Capital), Matanzas, Cardenas, San Juan, Curiana, Puerto Principe, Caravelas, Las Nuevitas, Manati, Puerto Padre, Gibara, Naranja, Nipe, Levisa, Tanamo, Cebollas and Baracoa; and to the South are Baytiqueri, Puerto Escondido, Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, El Portillo, Manzanillo, Santa Cruz, Negrilo, Trinidad, Jagua, Cochinos, Guines and Batabano; and most of them are perfectly secure for large vessels in all seasons.

In SAINT DOMINGO, on the French side, on the West and North are the harbours of Port au Prince, (the Capital), Jeremie, Leogane, San Marcos, Gonaives, Salines, Cape Nicholas Mole, Port Paix, Acul Bay, Cape Haytien, Fort Royal, Manzanillo, and Monte Christo; and in the South, Aux Cayes, Saint Louis, Aquin and Jaquemel. The Dominican Republic occupies the Eastern half of the Island, and possesses the ports of Saint Domingo, (the Capital), Nigua, Bani, Ocoa, Azua, Baraona, Boca Narciso, Petit Trou, Nieva River and Agujas Bay on the South, and the Bay of Higuey, Macao, the beautiful Gulf of Samanà, with Savana la Mar, to the East; and Hermitano, Estero Grande, San Juan, Puerto Plata, Port Caballo, and Isabel Bay to the North.

In PORTO RICO, the Capital of the same name is the only harbour frequented by foreigners. The productions are the same as those of all the West Indies.

JAMAICA is too well known to need enlarging upon its commerce in this place. It once exported large quantities of beautiful Mahogany, but none is now very accessible from the coast, though still to be seen on the mountains.