356 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



that the most beautiful graining and toughest timber is found. 

 In felling, great care is taken so that the logs will not split or break, 

 thereby enhancing their value. The trees are then cut into con- 

 venient lengths to be handled and squared so that they can be 

 more easily stowed away in ships. 



By this time the dry season has begun, and while a part of the 

 gang are engaged in cutting, others are at work preparing roads 

 and bridges to enable the logs to be transported. The trucks 

 used for hauling are two wheeled affairs, constructed on the spot, 

 save for the axles and hubs, which are brought in by the lumbermen. 

 Oxen are used to haul these improvised wagons. The work is 

 done mostly at night, by the aid of pine torches, for the reason 

 that it is cooler at that time. The logs are collected on the banks 

 of the rivers and left there until June, when the rainy season sets in. 

 At that time they are cut loose and allowed to float down stream. 

 A gang of natives in flat bottomed canoes follow the logs to see 

 that none are lost. When they have arrived at their destination, 

 each owner collects his logs, which are marked by certain dis- 

 tinguishing marks on the ends. They are then prepared for 

 export by cutting off any battered ends or split portions. The 

 natives tie them together and raft them to the ships, where they 

 are placed aboard. This is a dangerous operation, for in rough 

 weather, many of the rafts are broken up and the timbers carried 

 out to sea. In the majority of cases they are carried by the 

 ships to London, which is the mahogany center of the world, and 

 from there dispersed in smaller quantities. 



Differences in Mahogany 



The wood is generally classified under two heads : the Spanish 

 mahogany and the Hondurus mahogany. The former composes 

 the richly colored, solid, heavy varieties, which are sought after 

 chiefly for furniture veneering. It is susceptible to a high degree 

 of polish and when properly treated, a rich wavy figuring is brought 

 out. The Spanish wood is the produce of the island of San Dom- 

 ingo, whence only small quantities come at the present time. 

 Cuba, furnishes a much larger log, which is only slightly inferior 

 to the San Domingo, and is classed as Spanish wood. It can be 

 partly distinguished by the white chalk-like specks in the pores 

 and is cold to the touch. 



