MEN OF THE TREES 



mentioned Podo. If converted on the quarter, the radial 

 surface often shows a deHcate and very attractive 

 figure, similar to that of the French plane. 



Ocotea usambarensis, known locally and to the trade 

 as Muzaiti, is to be found on the Kikuyu escarpment 

 and in the forests on the southern slopes of Mount 

 Kenya, also in Tanganyika territory. This may be com- 

 pared with teak; it polishes, saws and planes well, its 

 colour is light yellowish-brown when freshly cut, aging 

 to a handsome dark brown. The tree is large and capable 

 of giving balks up to thirty feet, squaring twenty 

 inches to twenty-five inches. The Uganda Railway Lo- 

 comotive Department reported that it was far the best 

 of the local timbers and that there was no reason why it 

 should not be used for coach building. They used it for 

 a great variety of work, such as coach pillars, panels, 

 stretcher poles, and have not yet had any cause for com- 

 plaint. 



I am particularly interested in Olea chrysophlla, lo- 

 cally known as Mutamayu, or the Brown Olive. It was 

 under this species that I found valuable natural regen- 

 eration of Mutarakwa, the pencil Cedar, for it was in 

 this tree that the pigeons perch at night and by masti- 

 cating the seed make it possible for it to germinate. The 

 Brown Olive I regret to say is largely used for fuel, al- 

 though it might be utilized for turnery and many other 

 purposes. It is very hard and heavy, light brown in 

 colour when freshly cut, darkening with age and has a 

 characteristic olive grain. 



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