MAHOGANY AND CEDAR. 61 



above. Chief amongst the timber-trees of the colony conies 

 the mahogany (Swietenia mahogani), which, with logwood, forms 

 the staple article of export. The average quantity of mahogany 

 shipped from British Honduras during the last five years 

 amounts to nearly 3,000,000 feet, of the annual value of 

 30,000. 



The best qualities of mahogany, as already mentioned, come 

 from the limestone soils to the north of Belize : those from the 

 south, and especially from the Mosquito Coast, being deficient 

 in density and fine grain, are known in England as baywood, 

 hence " baymen," a term often applied to the mahogany-cutters 

 of these coasts. Although the mahogany near the coast and 

 within easy reach of the principal rivers has been for the most 

 part cut down and shipped, there is a considerable quantity 

 of mahogany left in the country and still available, especially 

 by means of railways, to supply the European and American 

 markets for many years to come. 



Growing with the mahogany is a member of the same family, 

 the common cedar (Cedrela odorata), which is in great demand 

 for light indoor work, and from which the fragrant boxes 

 for Havannah cigars are made. In the colony the trunks of 

 the largest trees are hollowed out to make bungays, dorays, pit- 

 pans, and canoes, purposes for which, on account of the light 

 and durable character of the wood, they are admirably adapted. 

 The export of British Honduras cedar for the last five years 

 amounts, on an average, to about 130,000 feet. Logwood, which 

 really comes next to mahogany in export value, is found in 

 rather moist lands to the north and west, where it forms immense 

 thickets ; but it is not characteristic of what is termed strictly 

 cohune land. The logwood-trees about 15 or 20 feet high 

 have some points of resemblance in appearance and habit of 

 growth to trees of the white thorn in England. The stems 



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