Linncean Society. 297 



are used by the Indians like sand- paper to polish their blow-pipes, 

 bows, war-clubs, &c. ; and the blow-pipe being called Cura, the tree 

 has thence received the name of Curatakie. 



Burracurra, Paira, Letter-wood, or Snakewood (Piritanera Guia- 

 nensis, Aubl.). This tree, which is very scarce within several 

 hundred miles of the sea-coast, is often from 60 to 70 feet high, and 

 from 2 to 3 in diameter. The bark is of a dark grey, and M'hen 

 wounded exudes a white milk. The outer part of the wood is white 

 and very hard ; the heart (which in the largest tree scarcely exceeds 

 G or 7 inches in diameter) is of great weight, hardness and solidity, 

 of a beautiful deep red, variegated with black spots of different size 

 and figure, which give rise to its name. It is susceptible of a bril- 

 liant polish ; but the small size of the mottled part, and its great 

 value even in the colony, limits its use almost entirely to veneering, 

 to picture-frames, to some smaller pieces of furniture, and to walk- 

 ing-sticks. The Indians form it into bows more for ornament than 

 use. At the foot of the Canuku Mountains near the river llupu- 

 nuni, at ths Upper Essequibo, and Corentyn, it is still plentiful; but 

 all these places being several hundred miles from the sea-coast, it is 

 both difficult and expensive to convey it to the colony. There ap- 

 pears to be a variety, the heart of M'hich is not mottled, and this thfr 

 Indians are said to prefer to the other for their bows. 



Wamara. A scarce tree, attaining a great height, but the only 

 part used is the heart, which is dark brown and often streaked. Its 

 hardness and weight cause it to be preferred by the Indians for their 

 war-clubs : it may be had from 6 to 12 inches square, and from 20 

 to 40 feet long. 



Cuppa, Ruye (Clusia sp. ?). A tree of large size, with a hard wood 

 used for inside work. 



Curahara or Kurara. Plentiful and of large size ; and its dura- 

 bility, and not being liable to split, recommend it chiefly for timbers, 

 knees, &c. for schooners. It is also much in request for mill-rollers, 

 mill-timbers and planks of every description. 



Yarura, Porreka-ye, or Paddle-wood (Aspidosperma excelsum, 

 Benth.). The lower part of the trunk juts out in tabular projections, 

 forming cavities or compartments like the Mor«, which serve the In- 

 dians as ready-made planks, principally for the construction of their 

 paddles. The trunk itself has the apj)earance of being fluted, or as if 

 it consisted of numerous slender trees grown together along their 

 whole length. The author states that he knows only of one other 

 similar instance among the forest-trees of British Guiana ; in this 

 latter case the tree produces berries, while the fruit of the Yarura is 

 a follicle containing several suborbiculate winged seeds, attached by 

 a long funiculus. The wood of the Yarura is light, elastic, and not 

 apt to splinter ; it might prove useful for gun-carriages, bulwarks of 

 vessels of war, &c. ; and might also, on account of its lightness, be 

 employed in floats or jjaddle-wheels of steam-vessels. It is much 

 in request for rollers in the cotton ginning machines, for which pur- 

 pose it is superior to any other wood in the colony. 



Purple heart, or Mariwayaiia (Copaifera pubiflora, Benth., and 



I 



