Captain Munro on the Timber Trees of Bengal. 91 



ties seem to be valued by the natives of Nagapore only. 

 There is no specimen of the wood that I know of in Cal- 

 cutta ; but it can, of course, be easily obtained. I have made 

 very numerous trials of this wood, and am of opinion, that it 

 is is the best wood in India, combining, as it does, strength, 

 lightness, and beauty, and it is easily procurable of very large 

 dimensions. I have seen it very generally used for door and 

 window frames ; but it is curious to observe, that the plaster 

 in its proximity always becomes more or less stained with a 

 red colour. The finest trees I observed in their native jungles 

 always grow in the stony bed of nullahs, a favourite locality 

 of many leguminous trees. 



16. Seriss — Acacia serissa. — This genus also contains A. 

 arabica^ Babul, and A. catechu, Kaira, producing timber. The 

 Seriss is a dark-coloured very hard wood, approaching Sissoo 

 in appearance and properties, but with the advantage of not 

 being so liable to injury from insects. It is heavier than 

 Sissoo, and broke with 709 lb., and is not quite so elastic. 

 It is a fine, handsome tree, and to be found all over India 

 growing in the plains. The wood is principally adapted for 

 furniture. 



17. Babul — Acacia arabica. — This is a very useful, strong, 

 tough timber, used for knees and crooked timbers in ship- 

 building, for the axles of country-carts, handles of mallets, 

 and various agricultural implements ; and, indeed, for all pur- 

 poses where tough, small, plain wood is required. If it 

 attained to any size, it would be extremely valuable. The 

 tree grows well in every soil, and is well known to every 

 person who has travelled in India. 



18. Kheri, Kair, Kaira, Koroi — Acacia catechu, — This tree 

 is known wherever I have been in India, by some slight va- 

 riation of the words I have given above. It is more valu- 

 able than is generally supposed, and when a large tree can 

 be obtained without much of the outer light-coloured wood, 

 it is an excellent timber. It is very hard, and turns very 

 well, being quite as close in grain as box, Kingwood, and 

 other fancy woods, which command a very ready and remu- 

 nerative sale in England. The tree is very widely spread 

 over India, and seems to grow well even in the poorest soils. 



