430 THE TIMBER TREES OF CEYLON. [Nov.- 



on the backs, and never on their faces. It often takes a considerable 

 amount of planing to remove them. 



But to return to the Ceylon woods. In noticing the little work 

 which has given rise to these remarks, a fitting opportunity seems 

 also to occur to bring to more general notice some few of the most 

 striking or important out of the ninety-six different kinds mentioned 

 in the book. 



Taking them in the order in wdiich they occur, and without any 

 scientific classification, we find the following : — 



Cassia Siamca, Lumk, the Araucaria of the Singalese. — This is not 

 only a useful timber tree, but it is valuable as an ornamental 

 avenue tree. It is well known also in India. The wood rarely 

 exceeds a foot in diameter ; it varies in colour from dark brown 

 with darker streaks to nearly ebony black. It is used for ornamental 

 work, and makes extremely pretty walking-sticks. In exposed 

 situations, it is said to be liable to contract and expand with the 

 weather. It is said to be an excellent wood for fuel, for which 

 purpose it is largely used on the railways in Ceylon. 



Ghloroxiilon Sivietcnia Be Bvruta, or Satinwood, one of the best 

 known and most abundant of the nseful timber and fancy woods of 

 Ceylon. It is found chiefly in the Xorth-Western and Eastern 

 Provinces, especially at Trincomalee and P)atticaloa, where very large 

 logs of it can be procured, but owing to its weight and the small 

 size of the vessels employed in the coasting trade, the large- sized 

 logs have to be cut up to secure their easy transport. The flowered 

 or figured satin, which is the wood most valued for cabinet work, is 

 of course rare compared with the plain wood. Both kinds are used 

 for doors, window frames, and all parts of house-building as well 

 as for furniture. The wood is hard, heavy, and somewhat difficult 

 to work, and the beautiful light yellow or straw colour of the 

 freshly-cut wood turns darker on exposure. 



Diospyros qucesita, Thw. Kalu-masdiriya, or Calamander wood. — ■ 

 The following note is given on this beautiful wood : " I recollect 

 reading in 1849 a very interesting account by Mendis Mudaliyar 

 of the mode of procuring Calamander wood, and the fact that 

 the variegated part so much in request is an accidental product 

 of the tree. Some trees produce none of it, some near the lower 

 part of the trunk ; whilst in others it is found only near the 

 middle of the tree, and generally not in luxuriant trees growing in 

 rich soil, but in those growing in dry rocky ground. These remarks 

 apply to several of the trees producing variegated or ornamental 

 woods, such as the tamarind, in which the beautiful calamander-like 

 wood is found only in very old trees, and generally in the heart of 

 the lower part of the trunk, or in the roots." 



