1829. VARIETIES OF WOOD. 981 
Muermo. There is no wood produced on the island more 
useful than the muermo. It is used for timbers, and knees, and 
al] other purposes of ship-building: and is excellent for the 
planks of boats, as it bears wet and dry without suffering from 
either. It is abundant, and much used as firewood, for which it 
is well suited. 
Luma (Myrtus Luma), avery tough and useful wood, used 
for tree-nails, for stakes in fencing, for rafters in the roofs of 
houses ; and is exported in large quantities to Lima, for shafts 
and poles of carriages. The fruit is sweet, and might yield a 
strong spirit ; it is called cauchao. 
Ciruelillo, a small tree, used only for washing-bowls and 
boxes; it is of little value. 
Quiaka. Of no value. 
Tapu, a very crooked tree, growing along the ground in 
swampy places. It might serve for floors, and timbers for small 
vessels ; but it is not used, from its being so very hard. 
Tenu, something like muermo, and considered a good wood. 
Peta, a species of Myrtus, of which hoops for barrels are 
made. 
Ralral, considered to be like the wood of the walnut-tree, and 
of general use, on account of its toughness and durability ; it is 
made into blocks for ships. 
Meli, more tough than luma: of this the country people 
make pick-axes, for cultivating the ground (Agiieros, p. 127). 
Pelu, also tough; useful for axle-trees and gun-carriages 
(Agiieros, p. 127). 
Mayten, useful for turning ; and lasts long under water. 
The above mentioned are produced on the island; but the 
two following, alerse and cypress, are from the main-land, in 
the neighbourhood of the Cordilleras. They are not only in 
general use in Childe, but are exported in large quantities to 
all the ports to the northward. ‘The alerse, near Childe, is of 
better quality than that which comes from Concepcion. 
The Cypress is brought to the island in ‘tablones’ (orplanks), 
seven or eight feet long, two inches thick, and nine or ten inches 
wide, as is also the alerse ; but the latter, from the facility with 
