88 Captain Munro on the Timber Trees of Bengal. 



Captain Baker's trials, and its specific gravity is 640. Cap- 

 tain Hannay describes three varieties of Toon in Assam, 

 under the names of Hindooree Poma and Seekha Poma, and 

 says, that although light, vt^hen once seasoned it is very dur- 

 able, and some splendid boats are formed of it, particularly 

 in the Dihong river, where it would seem to be in great 

 abundance It is mentioned by Lieutenant Nuthall as one 

 of the woods of Arracan, under the name of Thit-ka-do. 



8. Mahogany — Swietenia mahogani, Linn. — This, of course, 

 is only known in India in its cultivated state, and sufficient 

 has been done to shew that it can be grown with great suc- 

 cess. The Horticultural Society are in possession of beau- 

 tiful specimens, that have been worked up from trees grown 

 in the Botanical Gardens, and which are supposed to have 

 been forty-three to fourty-four years old when felled. The 

 cultivation of the tree ought to be encouraged as much as 

 possible in the lower hills, for even in its native country 

 the quality depends very much on the situation where the 

 trees grow. On elevated rocky places, where there is 

 but little soil, the wood is always of a better grain and su- 

 perior texture ; whereas in low, alluvial situations, however 

 vigorous and luxuriant the plant may be, the quality of the 

 timber is always inferior, more light and porous, and of a 

 paler colour. Mahogany is said to be almost indestructible 

 by worms or in water, and to be bullet-proof. Captain 

 Franklin took with him to the Polar Seas boats of mahogany, 

 as being the lightest, in consequence of the thinness of the 

 planks, combined with great strength. 



9. Bohunah or Booah — Soymida (Swietenia febrifuga, 

 Roxb. — It is also called Kukhut Bohida in the Nagpore 

 jungles. I am not aware that this tree is found in Bengal, 

 but it is very abundant in Nagpore, and also in southern 

 India. I have had at Kamptee abundant opportunities of try- 

 ing the strength and value of the timber, and believe it to be 

 one of the best in India. It takes a high polish, and from 

 its fine red colour is peculiarly adapted for furniture. There 

 are specimens in the collection of the Horticultural Society 

 of the wood sent from the Jungle Mehals. 



10. Chickrasseey or Chittagong wood — Chickrassia tabula- 



