xxiv.] ANGELIQUE. 159 



Colonial Government of St. Laurent du Maroni. They 

 were imported into Havre-only recently (1874). 



I. Angelique. A species of Teak. This tree is of 

 straight growth, and yields timber 12 to 22 inches square, 

 by 20 to 54 feet in length, clear of branches. 



The wood is of a reddish-brown colour, clean and 

 even in the grain, moderately hard, tough, strong, elastic, 

 and not difficult to work, although it does not cleave 

 readily. Occasionally a few logs are found with a 

 waviness or figure in the grain, which would make them 

 valuable to the cabinet-maker. There is little sap-wood. 



The timber is very sound and free from knots, and, 

 except that a small percentage of the logs have a slight 

 heart, or perhaps, star-shake at the pith or centre, there 

 are no defects affecting the conversion of it into planks, 

 boards, &c., as may be required. This wood, therefore, 

 seems fit for employment in architecture for most of 

 the purposes to which African, Mahogany, Oak, Teak, 

 Sabicu, &c., &c., are used. 



It is reported to have been used for some time in the 

 French dockyards as backing to armour plates on ships, 

 and as it does not appear to contain any acid, it might 

 be employed in lieu of Teak for a similar purpose in the 

 royal dockyards in England. It has been said that it 

 does not rot in water, that it is proof against attacks from 

 many insects to which other timber is liable, and that it 

 is durable. The specific gravity is estimated to be about 

 770 to 820 when seasoned.* 



* Since the above was written, an opportunity has offered of practically 

 testing a few logs of partially seasoned Angelique timber, s. g. 916. They 

 opened very sound, and were tough, strong, and elastic. There was 

 very little waste in the conversion in reducing it to planks, &c. In work- 

 ing, however, it was found that some of the logs emitted an unpleasant 

 odour, and unless in seasoning the odour should evaporate fhis may 

 possibly prove detrimental to its value for general purposes, perhaps for the 

 inside of ships, or in close, damp places. 



