462 EXPLANATORY INDEX. 



The bark of the locust-tree or simiri (Hymencea courbaril) is 

 also sometimes used. This bark is from one-eighth to one- 

 fourth of an inch in thickness and very heavy, being of 

 greater specific gravity than water; so that in the event of 

 the canoe shipping water to any extent, it sinks immediately, 

 leaving its occupants to find their way ashore. 



"They are ticklish things to travel in at first, and to stand 

 up in one, until acquainted with its freaks, is a dangerous 

 experiment, ending in an undignified exit over one side, the 

 canoe shooting away in the opposite direction. 



" To make one of these woodskins, a large Purple-heart tree 

 is cut down, and the bark of the requisite length taken off. 

 A wedge-shaped piece is then cut out of the trough shaped 

 bark, from the top downwards, at a distance of three feet or 

 so from both ends on each side. The ends are then raised till 

 the edges of the cuts meet, when holes are pierced on either 

 hand, at a distance of six inches from the cut, and numbers of 

 turns of a strong withe or liana, called Mamnrie. passed through 

 them and made fast in a neat manner to a small round stick 

 placed along the inside. Two strong pieces of wood fastened 

 across at the splits prevent the sid< s from closing in. The 

 ends are then trimmed down level with the sides, and a tick- 

 lish but serviceable little craft is turned out. The seats are 

 made of curved pieces of the same bark, and are very low. 



" The whole process of making one of these woodskins, 

 including the drying of the bark, occupies a space of three 

 weeks. In this period, must, I think, be included some loss 

 of time from laziness on the part of the Indian canoe-builder. 

 Woodskins vary in size, but usually are from fifteen to twenty- 

 five feet in length, and an ordinary sized one will carry three 

 or four people with their hammocks and provisions." 



The tree when full grown, rather exceeds one hundred and 

 fifty feet in height, and the useful bark is smooth, and of a 

 dark brown colour. 



Two varieties are known by the natives as Koorooboorelli 

 and Marawinaroo. 



