ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. iv. 7-v. i 



^ In the island of Tylos off the Arabian coast 

 they say that there is a kind of wood ^ of which 

 they build their ships, and that in sea-water this 

 is almost proof against decay ; for it lasts more 

 than 200 years if it is kept under water, while, if 

 it is kept out of water, it decays sooner, though 

 not for some time. They also tell of another 

 strange thing, though it has nothing to do with 

 the question of decay : they say that there is a 

 certain tree,^ of which they cut their staves, and 

 that these are very handsome, having a variegated 

 appearance like the tiger's skin ; and that this 

 wood is exceedingly heavy, yet when one throws 

 it down on hard ground * it breaks in pieces like 

 pottery. 



Moreover, the wood of the tamarisk ^ is not 

 weak there, as it is in our country, but is as strong 

 as kermes-oak or any other strong wood. Now 

 this illustrates also the difference in properties 

 caused by country and climate. Moreover when wood, 

 such as that of oak or fir, is soaked in brine — not 

 all being soaked at the same depth in the sea, 

 but some of it close to shore, some rather further 

 out, and some at a still greater depth — " in all cases 

 the parts of the tree nearest the root (whichever 

 tree it is) sink quicker under water, and even if thev 

 fioat, have a greater tendency to sink. 



Which kiiid^ of wood are easy and which hard to work. Of 

 the core and its ejects. 



V. Some wood is easy to work, some difficult. 

 Those woods which are soft are easy, and especially 



* irpos (TTtp. roTtov can hardly be sound : ? ' on something 

 harder than itself.' 

 5 See Index, fivp'iKi, (2). « PUn. 16. 186. 



445 



