General JsTotices. 69 



findinj; that the advantage of a valuable discovcrj^, which they have 

 naturally promised to themselves, is suddenly seized on by others, even 

 before the slaves of the former have time to arrive at the spot to cut 

 down the timber, 



*' The mahogany tree is felled, generally, about twelve feet from the 

 ground^ and a stage is previously erected for the axe-men emi)loycd in 

 ievelling it: this, to an observer, would appear a labor of much danger; 

 but accidents rarely occur to those engaged in it. The body of the 

 tree, from the dimensions or quantity of the wood which it furnishes, 

 is deemed more or less valuable; nevertheless, for ornamental })urpo.ses, 

 the branches or limbs are generally preferred, the grain of these being 

 much closer, and the veins more rich and variegated. 



" The mahogany tree is seldom found in clusters or groups, being 

 much ujore frequently single and widely dispersed; w'hatj therefore, is 

 denominated a 'mahogany work,' usually comprehends an extent of 

 several miles. The growth of this tree is considered rapid, but that of 

 logwood is much more so; the latter, it is said, attafninij matin-ity in 

 five years. It has been remarked that the nuihogany which is felled 

 between the months of February and September, is very liable to split; 

 the same observation also extends to that which grows in rocky or 

 mountainous situations. This is the 'bayman's' greatest evil; for, un- 

 fortunately, the wood more fjarticularl}' subject to this inconvenience is 

 invariably the largest, and of the finest quality. There is but one pre- 

 caution against this, whenever the tendency towards it is discovered; 

 this is, to keep the tree immersed as closely as possible in deep water. 



*' The last day of falling, if the negroes have not been disturbed in 

 their labor, is invariably one of festivity and merriment; for they are 

 now able to think of coinlbrts in which it was impossible to indulge 

 <lurin!j the progress of their work. Some are now busily emj)Ioyed in 

 the improvement of their dwellings, which are merely huts or wigwams, 

 conqjosed of a few sticks and leaves; that of the master himself being 

 seldom formed of better materials. Others search the woods for game, 

 •which is very abundant; and the more ingenious turn their attention to 

 other suiall articles, from the less valuable mahogany for domestic uses, 

 either as presents to their wives and children, or for sale on their return 

 from the woods to the ' bay.' 



" The logs are usually i)rought out of the forest by cattle, and drawn 

 ■on trucks to the water-side, or to the barquadier, as it is termeil, which 

 has been previously pre[)ared by the foreman of the works for their re- 

 ception. When the distance is great, this is a labor of infinite and te- 

 dious difficulty. So soon as a sufiicient number of logs ore collected 

 tf» form a raft, and the waters have gained a sufiicient h.'ight, they are 

 thrown sinirly from the banks, and rc(|uire no other aid or guidance 

 than the force of the current to float them to the booms or lar<;e c;ihles 

 which are placed across the rivers, at certain eddies or fills: here they 

 are once more collected, each jjarty claiming his own from the aeneral 

 mass, and forming them into separate rafts for their final destination. 

 Sometimes more than a thousand logs tofrether are supported by these 

 booms; and the catastrophe attendant on their breaking asunder, which, 

 during extraordinary floods, frequently happens, is leally tremendous, 

 and in its consequences is truly ruinous to the woodman; for, thereby, 

 the labors of perhaps two, three, or more seasons, become lost to him 

 forever. 



"The mahogany, when disposed of at Honduras, produces from £16 

 to £30 (Jamaica currency) per one thousand square i'eet; th<^ price, 

 however, can seldom be fixed, as it generally fluctuates according to 

 the quality, size, and scarce or plentiful season. To give some idea of 

 the profit (though, perhaps, the instances of such success are not nu- 

 merous,) which attends the felling of mahogany, it may be stated that 



