116 



PHYSICAL GEOGKAPHY. 



[PART I. 



the Kangtal of Bengal (Artocarpus integrifolia), is, next 

 to the coco-nut and Palmyra, by far the most valuable 

 to the Singhalese ; its fruit, which sometimes attains the 

 weight of 50 Ibs., supplying food for their table, its leaves 

 fodder for their cattle, and its trunk timber for every con- 

 ceivable purpose both oeconomic and ornamental. The 

 Jak-tree, (as well as the Del, or wild bread-fruit,) is in- 

 digenous to the forests on the coast and in the central 

 provinces ; but, although the latter is found in the vicinity 

 of the villages, it does not appear to be an object of special 

 cultivation. The Jak, on the contrary, is planted near 

 every house, and forms the shade of every garden. Its 

 wood, at first yellow, approaches the colour of mahogany 

 after a little exposure to the air, and resembles it at all 

 times in its grain and marking. 



The Del (Artocarpus pubescens) affords a valuable 

 timber, not only for architectural purposes, but for ship- 

 building. It and the Halmalille 1 resembling but larger 

 than the linden tree of England, to which it is closely 

 allied, are the favourite building woods of the natives, 

 and the latter is used for carts, casks, and all household 

 purposes, as well as for the hulls of their boats, from the 

 belief that it resists the attack of the marine worms, and 

 that some unctuous property in the wood preserves the 

 iron work from rust. 2 



The Teak (Tectona grandis), which is superior to all 

 others, is not a native of this island, and although largely 

 cultivated, has not been altogether successful. But the 

 satin-wood 3 , in point of size and durability, is by far the 

 first of the timber trees of Ceylon ; for days together 

 I have ridden under its magnificent shade, all the 

 forests around Batticaloa and Trincomalie, and as far 

 north as Jaffna, being thickly set with it. It grows 

 to the height of a hundred feet, with a rugged grey 



1 Berrya ammonilla, 



2 The Masula boats, which brave 

 the formidable surf of Madras, are 

 made of Halmalille, which is there 



called "Trincomalie wood," from the 

 place of exportation-^ 



3 Chloroxylon Swietenia. 



