148 Fly -rods and Fly-tackle. 



terms as I am tempted to do, not even then would his 

 encomiums be exceeded. At all events it is well worthy 

 the rod-maker's attention, especially for tips. 



PURPLEHEAKT. 



All travellers in British Guiana enlarge on the mag- 

 nificence of this tree, growing as it does to the largest 

 size, straight as an arrow, and without a branch for sixty 

 feet or more. Its wood is universally commended by 

 them as of great beauty, durability, strength, and elastic- 

 ity. Black greenheart and purpleheart were the only 

 woods that withstood the concussion of service when 

 used for mortar-beds at the siege of Fort Bourbon, Mar- 

 tinique. From the bark of this tree the natives con- 

 struct their " wood-skin " canoes, some of which are large 

 enough to carry twenty-five people in smooth water. It 

 is also a favorite bow-wood of the Indians. It appears to 

 be unknown in this country, none of the dealers seeming 

 ever even to have heard of it at least as far as I can 

 ascertain. 



From the concurrent testimony of many travellers, 

 covering nearly one hundred years, it seems unquestion- 

 able that this wood is of great value for our purpose, and 

 since it may be had quite as easily as greenheart, both 

 being in common use in that colony, I commend it to the 

 attention of rod-makers. I regret that I am unable to 

 give its specific gravity or describe the wood more ex- 

 actly. As to the first it is heavier than water, and as to 

 the second it is purple in color. 



Composite rods of many different materials I have ex- 

 perimented upon, with much labor but less profit. 



Cedar, inlaid with four strips of split-bamboo set in 



