74 TEINIDAD. 



excellent timber, of very large size, and may serve the purposes 

 of the builder, wheelwright, turner, and cabinet-maker. 



Locust, or Courbaril {Hymenaa courbaril). — This is one of 

 our most valuable woods, and might be used for all building pur- 

 poses, but mainly in ornamental work; it is, however, almost 

 exclusively used for furniture — such as presses, bedsteads, side- 

 boards, tables, &c, and by wheelwrights for carriage naves. 

 Diameter, five to six feet, and very lofty. 



Purple-heart, or Sapatero (Copaifera pubiflora) . — The Purple- 

 heart is an excellent timber, and may serve in building as beams 

 and rafters ; but, from its rich dark colour, it is especially used 

 by cabinet-makers for facing and other ornamentation in the 

 choicer kinds of furniture. The heart- wood is as hard as the 

 Poui itself, whilst the sap, or outer wood, is of a light colour, 

 rather soft, and not durable. 



Mora {Mora excelsa). — The Mora and Mangrove may be said 

 to be our only social trees, and the former is, perhaps, the most 

 abundant of all our timber woods. It is one of the loftiest 

 and largest inhabitants of our forests, but when of any large 

 proportions, is in general hollow, or, at least unsound, in the 

 centre. The Mora has never been much employed, and is not, 

 therefore, in great demand. It is objected that it does not last 

 in the ground beyond three or four years, and on that account 

 has not hitherto been ranked among the valuable timbers. If 

 not recommendable, however, for ground-posts, it is certainly 

 available in some other respects. I have no doubt that it would 

 answer well for the flooring of stables, and in the construction 

 of bridges. One of our Mora forests has been felled (by order of 

 his Excellency the Governor), and the timber brought into 

 notice. I must say that it has not answered expectations, 

 and is now completely neglected. The Mora is not a hard 

 wood, but very much resembles the Angelim both in colour and 

 grain. 



Cedar, or Acajou (Cedrela odorata). — For all building pur- 

 poses, except ground-posts, Cedar is, unquestionably, our most 

 valuable wood. It is light, easily wrought, and yet very lasting; 

 also, from its pungent odour and acrid taste, it is generally exempl 

 from the attacks of insects. Cedar is commonly sawn into boarc 

 and scantlings, and used for plates and rafters, flooring anc 

 wainscoting, inside fittings and outside boarding; for panel- 



