BRAZIL-WOOD. 359 



which bears the name of Brazil having received that 

 designation in consequence of this tree being found 

 profusely scattered there *. 



The Portuguese government soon recognized the 

 value of this production, and it was made one of the 

 objects of royal monopoly, being imported into Eu- 

 rope on account of the crown. From this circumstance 

 it is known in Brazil as Pao de Rainha, or Queen's 

 wood. It commonly grows in dry places and amid 

 rocks. Its trunk is large, crooked, and full of knots ; 

 at a short distance from the ground innumerable 

 branches spring forth, and extend in every direction 

 in a straggling, irregular, and unpleasing manner. 

 Trees of the largest growth attain to thirty or forty 

 feet high, but they are rarely met with of so great 

 dimensions. The branches are armed with short, 

 strong, upright thorns ; the leaves are small and never 

 appear in luxuriant foliage. The flowers are of a 

 beautiful red colour and emit a fragrant smell. 



When first cut the wood is of a pale red, but 

 becomes darker by exposure to air. It is variegated 

 with irregular and fantastical black spots, which has 

 obtained for it among the French the name of bois de 

 lettres f. The bark of this tree, which is extremely 

 thick, and the white pithy part, are both useless ; 

 the heart being the only valuable portion, and when 

 both within and without are cutaway it is diminished 

 to nearly half its bulk. It is a very hard and dry 

 wood. The thickest pieces with a close grain are 

 considered the best. It is sometimes used in 

 turnery, and is susceptible of a good polish, but its 

 principal use is as a red dye. The colour which it 

 communicates is however very fleeting. It is an 

 adjective dye, and generally applied in combination 



* Southey's Brazil, vol. i, t Stedman, 





