1885.] THE TIMBER TREES OF CEYLOX. 431 



Carallia integcrrima, De Dawata. — ■ This is one of the most 

 ■common and remarkable in the cinnamon gardens near Colombo, 

 and up to 3000 feet elevation. Several of these are remarkable 

 for the large masses of aerial roots like deer's horns which are sent 

 •ont from various parts of the truidc, thus proving that though often 

 growing in very dry situations, they are closely allied to the man- 

 •groves, to which family they Ijelong. The trees when isolated have 

 wide-spreading heads, and are densely covered with dark-green 

 foliage, and are consequently one of the favourite shade-trees in the 

 various cinnamon gardens on the west coast of Ceylon, in the 

 pure white sand of which they flourisli, as well as in the richer soil 

 of the central province. It is indigenous in Southern India, 

 Bengal, Burma, China, and tropical Australia, The v/ood is of 

 a reddish colour, very ornamental, being prettily marked with lighter 

 wavy lines ; it is tough, but is said not to be durable. It is, how- 

 ever, much used for furniture, fittings, etc., and in Burma for rice 

 pounders and planks, while in Calcutta it is used for house-building. 

 This wood is of such a distinct character in its lightish-coloured 

 wavy lines, that it would no doubt prove an acquisition to the 

 cabinet woods already in use in this country were it imported. I am 

 iiot aware that it has been introduced even for experimental purposes. 



Bcrrrja Ammonilla, Boxb. Hal-Milila. — The tree is considered, 

 next to that of the Jack, as the most valuable timber tree in 

 Ceylon. Large quantities of it are exported from Batticaloa and 

 "Trincomalee to other parts of the island and to Madras, at which 

 place it is known as Trincomalee wood. The famous Masula boats 

 are built of the wood, which is of a light red colour fading to 

 brown, highly esteemed for its lightness and strength ; it is straight- 

 grained, slightly pliable, but tough. It is used by coachmakers, 

 coopers, and builders generally, and is applicable for almost any 

 purpose. The tree is a tall one, with an erect, straight trunk, often 

 with a clear stem of from 50 to 70 feet without branching. It is 

 described as a tree of easy culture, and one that should be much 

 more grown than it is. 



ChicJcmssia tahularis, A. Juss ; Hulanhik or Chittagong wood. — 

 A tall tree, often GO to 80 feet before branching, growing in Ceylon, 

 Southern India, Eastern Bengal, Assam, and Burma. The wood is 

 close-grained, of a light-brown colour, prettily marked with irregular 

 veins of darker brown, the whole having a satiny lustre. It is 

 much used for furniture in India, and is said to be very durable, 

 having been used in a palace of one of the Kandyan kings, where 

 it lasted some hundreds of years. A very fine specimen of this 

 beautiful wood is shown in the fine collection of Indian timbers in 

 Museum No. 3 of the Eoyal Gardens, Kew. 



