'208 J\/r. fScHOMBuiîGK'b Description of tlw Mora Tree. 



superior to oak and African teak, and to vie in every respect with Indian teak. 

 The full-g-rown tree will furnisli logs from thirty to forty, or even fifty feet in 

 length, and from twelve to twenty-four inches square, taken from the main 

 stem ; whilst the other parts would cut into the most choice and valuable pieces 

 in request for naval architecture ; such, for instance, as keels, keelsons, stem- 

 posts, floors, ribs, beams, knees, l)rcasts, backs, and others. 



Durin;;- my researches in the interior of British Guiana, I found many a 

 Mora tree whicli a.stor.ished me by its gigantic size; but I was ne\er more 

 surprized than by one whicli I found by the river Berbice, in lat. 4° 40' N., 

 being then in pursuit of a flock of wild hogs. Circumstances then did not 

 permit me to give it more than a cursory glance ; but I determined, if I should 

 pass again on my descent this remarkable tree, to measure the proportions of 

 this giant of its kind. I did not forget my resolution, and on my descent of 

 the river Berbice in February, 1837, I '^st no time in executing my design. 

 The height of the trunk and its branches were ascertained by measuring a 

 su)all base line, arid by taking the angles of altitude by a sextant. The other 

 parts were measured by one of Gunter's chains. The tree was not so remark- 

 able for its height, but the tabular buttresses were of an uncommon size, and 

 so completely decayed in the centre as to represent a wooden cavern, upwards 

 of sixteen feet high, which would have afforded room for tifteen persons, 

 without exposing tliein to the influence of the weather. The height of the 

 tree from the ground to the top branches was ascertained to be iKH feet 

 English ; the height of the trunk from the ground to the first branches, 63^ 

 feet; the circumference of the tabular excrescences, TH; their largest diame- 

 ter 38 feet; their smallest 12 feet; the height of the buttresses from the 

 ground to where the trunk adopts a moi-e regular form, 20^ feet : the circum- 

 ference of the trunk being there 21 feet. 



The Mora, interesting at all periods in its ajipearance, presents the most 

 pleasing aspect during tlie perioil it is in flower; ihe beiiutiful dark green 

 of its leaves, contrasts so well witii its snow-white blossoms, that I am sure it 

 would be iin|)ossil»le to pa^^s it M'ithout admiration, even if it had no otlier 

 (lualifieatious to recommend itself. 



Dr. Hancock, in his pamphlet on British (îuiana, rei)resents the Mora as 

 belonging to the genus Miniusa ; but I conclude from his statement that he 



