MAHOGANY TREE. 239 



which offer resistance to the axe are often very 

 valuable: such as the bullet-tree and iron-wood, 

 the red-wood and sapodilla; but they are thrown 

 aside as useless, unless growing near some creek or 

 rivulet that intersects the road. They are then in- 

 valuable for the construction of bridges, which are 

 frequently very large, and require to be made of 

 strong materials in order to bear the ponderous 

 loads that will soon have to pass over them. But 

 the cutting away of underwood, and the removal of 

 even lofty trees, is not the only labour that is re- 

 quisite in making roads through the forest; the 

 workmen still require the aid of pick-axes and 

 sledge-hammers to break the huge masses of stone 

 which impede the way, to level considerable risings 

 in the ground, and to remove any remaining stumps 

 that may embarrass the draught oxen'. When the 

 roads are thus completed, and the trees cut into 

 logs for the purpose of removing them, which gene- 

 rally occupies the intermediate months from August 

 till April and May in the ensuing year, both men 

 and cattle are put in requisition, that not a 

 moment may be lost. 



The wagons on which the mahogany is placed 

 are called trucks, and six of these are escorted by 

 forty men. Each wagon requires seven pair of 

 oxen and two drivers, while sixteen of the party are 

 employed in cutting food for the cattle, and the other 

 twelve in loading the carriages. As the same degree 

 of heat which dries up the roads, and renders even 

 the marshy places passable, presses greatly upon both 

 men and cattle, the loading and carrying of the 

 timber is performed in the night. Here, then, is a 



