NOTES ON THE EXTRACTION OF TIMBER 131 
relating to the production of coniferous woods from 
more temperate latitudes. In these countries approach- 
ing the Equator, Mahogany and Teak are the principal 
woods obtained, and of the latter mentioned some 
observations have been made in the chapter devoted to 
Asiatic woods. 
Most of the countries from which Mahogany is 
obtained are in no very advanced stage of development, 
and there is, therefore, a lack of means of transport, 
Consequently, in the absence of roads and railways, 
waterways have to be utilized, rivers, full with seasonal 
rains, and much native labour, being necessary to exploit 
the forests. 
In Central American districts where Mahoganyis found, 
somewhat primitive means are employed for its extrac- 
tion. A few, however, are being exploited under the 
restless energy of American firms, but, generally, they 
are worked under similar conditions to those that have 
been in use from the first. Practically all the labour is 
done by natives, chiefly by negroes, who, in addition to 
the task of getting the timber from forest to stream, 
are also employed in squaring the logs for market. 
In many districts of Central America, but especially in 
British Honduras and Mexico, they have attained a 
high degree of efficiency in this latter work, straightening 
and squaring huge tree-trunks into most shapely and 
well-made squares, the work being simply performed 
with axe and adze. The floating of the logs to the 
mouths of the rivers during the wet season in June or 
July depends upon the amount of rain that falls, and, 
should there be a deficiency, many logs are sometimes 
held up in the by-ways of the river, there to await better 
conditions during the following season’s rains. . As in these 
moist; humid, tropical countries, decomposition is rapid, 
the effect is sometimes shown on the wood, at times 
