118 PHYSICAL GEOGKAPHY. [PART I. 



The Calamander 1 is the most esteemed cabinet wood 

 in the island. It resembles rose-wood, but surpasses it 

 both in beauty and durability ; it has at all times been 

 in the greatest repute in Ceylon. It grows chiefly in 

 the southern provinces, and especially in the forests at 

 the foot of Adam's Peak ; but here it has been so pro- 

 digally felled, first by the Dutch, and afterwards by 

 the English, without any precautions for planting or re- 

 production, that it has at last become exceedingly scarce. 

 Wood of a large scantling is hardly procurable at any 

 price ; and it is only in a very few localities, the prin- 

 cipal of which is Saffragam, in the western province, 

 that even small sticks are now to be found ; one reason 

 assigned for this being that the heart of the tree is seldom 

 sound, a peculiarity which extends also to the Cadooberia. 

 The twisted portions, and especially the roots, yield 

 veneers of unusual beauty, dark wavings and blotches, 

 almost black, being gracefully disposed over a delicate 

 fawn-coloured ground. Its density is so great (nearly 

 60 Ibs. to a cubic foot) that it takes an exquisite polish, 

 and is admirably adapted for the manufacture of furniture, 

 in the ornamenting of which the native carpenters excel. 

 The chiefs and headmen, with a full appreciation of its 

 beauty, take particular pride in possessing specimens of 

 this beautiful wood, roots of which they regard as most 

 acceptable presents. Notwithstanding its value, how- 

 ever, the tree is nearly eradicated, and runs considerable 

 risk of becoming extinct in the island ; but, as it is not 

 peculiar to Ceylon, it may hereafter be restored by fresh 

 importations from the south-eastern coast of India, of 

 which it is equally a native. I apprehend that the 

 name, Calamander, which was used by the Dutch, is but 

 a corruption of " Coromandel." 



Another species of cabinet wood is produced from the 

 Nedun 2 , a large tree common on the western coast ; it 



I), hirsuta. | 2 Dalbcrgia lanceolaria. 



