94 SOIL AND PKODtrCTIONS. 



lanceolate leaves, disposed in bunches, furnishes, when sea- 

 soned, a very hard, tough, and solid wood, of a bluish white 

 colour, with deep blue streaks ; it appears to possess all the 

 valuable qualities of teak, and is commonly used for rafters, 

 door-frames, bitels, and other similar purposes ; it is unfor- 

 tunately not very common. 



The Darchenee,or bastard cinnamon, which is very common, 

 and grows to a large size, furnishes a great quantity of very 

 useful wood, though not equal in strength or durability to 

 the last ; it is of a pink or pale reddish colour, and may be 

 had in beams of any size. 



A third species, known to the natives by the name of Bil- 

 loo, furnishes a wood of a deep red colour, very heavy and 

 ■solid, but easily worked ; it is said to be less affected by 

 moisture than either of the two former, and proof against 

 insects. 



The barberry, which is sufficiently common, produces a 

 wood of a rich golden yellow colour, which takes a good 

 polish, and though only found in small stems, would be very 

 well adapted for ornamental furniture, such as chairs, music- 

 stands, &o. the bark of the root is thought to be the base of 

 " Warburg's fever drops." 



As intimately connected with this subject, a few observa- 

 tions on the capabilities of the hills may not be misapplied. 



Every description of European vegetables, fruit, and grain, 

 are advantageously cultivated on the hills. Potatoes in any 

 quantity; oats for feeding horses; barley for brewing* beer, 



* Ho hops liave yet been discovered on the hills, but I have seen 

 them growing wild in immense abundance, in a soil and climate nearly 

 analogous, in the province of Kathetia in G-eorgia. See extract from 

 Captain Ouchterlony's Memoir as to his successful experiments in mak- 

 ing Beer. — ^Bd. 



