208 Mr. Schouzunck's Description of the Mora Tree. 
superior to oak and African teak, and to vie in every respect with Indian teak. 
The full-grown tree will furnish logs from thirty to forty, or even fifty feet in 
length, and from twelve to twenty-four inches square, taken from the main 
stem ; whilst the other parts would cut into the most choice and valuablé pieces 
in request for naval architecture ; such, for instance, as keels, keelsons, stem- 
posts, floors, ribs, beams, knees, breasts, backs, and others. 
During my researches in the interior of British Guiana, I found many a 
Mora tree which astonished me by its gigantic size; but I was never more 
surprized than by one which I found by the river Berbice, in lat. 4? 40' N., 
being then in pursuit of a flock of wild hogs. Circumstances then did not 
permit me to give it more than a cursory glance; but I determined, if I should 
pass again on my descent this remarkable tree, to measure the proportions of 
this giant of its kind. I did not forget my resolution, and on my descent of 
the river Berbice in February, 1837, I lost no time in executing my design. 
The height of the trunk and its branches were ascertained by measuring a 
small base line, and by taking the angles of altitude by a sextant. The other 
parts were measured by one of Gunter's chains. The tree was not so remark- 
able for its height, but the tabular buttresses were of an uncoinmon size, and 
so completely decayed in the centre as to represent a wooden cavern, upwards 
of sixteen feet high, which would have afforded room for fifteen persons, 
without exposing them to the influence of the weather. The height of the 
tree from the ground to the top branches was ascertained to be 933 feet 
English; the height of the trunk from the ground to the first branches, 634 
feet; the circumference of the tabular excrescences, 71}; their largest diame- 
ter 38 feet; their smallest 12 feet; the height of the buttresses from the 
ground to where the trunk adopts a more regular form, 203 feet; the circum- 
ference of the trunk being there 21 feet. | 
The Mora, interesting at all periods in its appearance, presents the most 
pleasing aspect during the period it is in flower; the beautiful dark green 
of its leaves, contrasts so well with its snow-white blossoms, that I am sure it 
would be impossible to pass it without admiration, even if it had no other 
qualifications to recommend itself. 
Dr. Hancock, in his pamphlet on British Guiana, represents the Mora as 
belonging to the genus Mimosa; but I conclude from his statement that he 
