142 



CA SE to a height of about 60 feet. Native of the Andaman and 

 73. Nicobar Islands. 



This splendid wood does not appear to be known in 

 commerce, though it might prove of value in the European 

 market, if it could be supplied in sufficient quantity. 



It is recommended for cabinet-work, sticks, frames and 

 carvings, but is said to be difficult to season, and liable to 

 shrink and warp. 



No. 353. Ebony. The chief source of this wood is 

 (Dins2jyros Ebenum, Koenig). A large tree of Southern 

 India and Ceylon. Very little of the wood is exported 

 from India, as in that country the tree is usually of small 

 size and somewhat scarce. Ceylon exports about 300 tons 

 of the wood annually, the chief markets being England, 

 Germany, and China. In Europe, Ebony is employed for 

 turnery, cabinet-work, piano keys, rulers, &c. This wood 

 is characterised by the extremely dark colour and hardness 

 of the heart- wood (duramen)^ the sap-wood {alhurnuni) 

 being white, and not durable. 



The Greeks and Romans were acquainted with Ebony ; 

 it is mentioned by Dioscorides, Pliny, &c. Indian 

 caskets, inkstand, and other articles, carved in Ebony are 

 shown. 



CASE ^^* «^54. Gaub Fruits (Dios^njros Emhryopteris, 

 rj^ Pers.). The Gaub is a tree growing to a height of about 

 35 feet, extending through India from the Himalaya to 

 Ceylon, Siam, and the Malay Archipelago. The large 

 round fruit is of a reddish colour and contains a viscid 

 pulp, which is used as gum in bookbinding, and in place 

 of tar for covering the seams in fishing boats. The fluid 

 contains a large quantity of tannin, and is used medici- 

 nally as an astringent. The oil extracted from the seeds 

 is also used by the natives in medicine. The leaves are 

 used as cigarette wrappers in Bombay. 



Note woods, fruits, &c., of other species of Diospyros^ 

 including D. eh7'etioides, Wall., a common Burmese tree, 

 and D. Melanoxylon, Roxb., a tree of the Deccan 

 Peninsula and Ceylon. This species yields Ebony, and 

 the leaves are largely used as cigarette wrappers in 

 Bombay. Note also edible fruits of European Date 

 Plum (Z). Lotus, L.), a native of Italy and of the East. 



