110 FOREST PRODUCTS. 



and huge stalactitic masses are formed which are collected 

 five or six months after the charring of the bark has taken 

 place. The market price at Calicut varies from one anna 

 six pies to two annas per Ib. It is almost black in appear- 

 ance with a vitreous fracture; but if held up to the light 

 is found to be translucent and of a goldeu-red tint. It is 

 principally used for sealing bottles, jars, &c. I have found 

 that in combination with Kerosene oil, this resin forms an 

 excellent, though slow drying varnish, which however will 

 not stand exposure to damp or wet. 



Careya arborea yields a clear gum which is not col- 

 lected. The bark also yields an excellent fibre, and the 

 leaves are the favorite food of the Tassa silk worm 

 (Antheraea paphia). The apple-like fruit of this tree is 

 eagerly devoured by cattle. 



Cathartocarpus (Cassia) Fistula yields a reddish astrin- 

 gent gum used medicinally. The bark is used for tanning 

 leather, and the black treacly substance found adhering 

 to the divisions between the seeds in the long brown pods 

 is used medicinally as a cathartic. 



Cedrela toona yields a gum resin not collected in the 

 district. 



Cliloroxylon Swietenia. The satin wood is only found 

 near Walayar and is scarce there. It yields a clear pale 

 gum. The sawdust of the heartwood is very fragrant 

 and smells like new ginger bread. It is very unctuous to 

 the feel, and a good wood oil could doubtless be extracted 

 from it. 



Gryptostegia grandiflora yields a splendid quality of 

 Caoutchouc far superior to the Ceara (Manihot Glazovii) 

 rubber. The work of collecting the sap from the ends of the 

 young shoots is, however, very tedious, and the cultivation 

 of this climber is on that account not likely to pay. The 

 caoutchouc is easily separated from the sap, by the addition 

 of a small quantity of spirits, and by heating the sap gently 

 over a charcoal fire. The Cryptostegia is only cultivated 

 in gardens in the district. 



