XXI.] OTHER INDIAN TIMBERS. 211 



grey sap-wood and very irregular, jet-black, solid heart, 

 sometimes streaked with lighter markings. The Indian 

 forest oiKcers say the demand for it is not great, but it 

 is much used for inlaying and turnery work. The 

 weight often exceeds 70 lbs. to the cubic foot, but its 

 other properties, as well as its structure, require further 

 examination. Beautiful carving is sometimes executed in 

 this wood, which is capable of taking a very high polish. 



D. Melanoxylon has a pink sap-wood, with irregular 

 black heart, and is very hard. It usually has beautiful 

 purple streaks in the black mass, and is heavy and 

 strong. All the wood is used for building, shafts, carving, 

 and fancy work. 



The handsome Marble-wood of D. Kurzii ought to 

 be much more largely imported than is at present the 

 case. D. qucBsita, the Calamander wood of Ceylon, is 

 now getting scarce ; it is one of the most valuable 

 ornamental woods of Ceylon and South India. There 

 are several other Ebonies in India, but far too little is 

 known of them and their uses at present. 



OTHER INDIAN TIMBERS. 



Of the numerous other woods employed for purposes 

 of construction, etc., in the Indian Empire, the follow- 

 ing may be noted as the chief: — 



Dillenia indica, the Chalta, a large evergreen tree of 

 Bengal, Central and South India, and Burmah, yielding 

 a fine red mottled wood ; and Dillenia pentagyna, with 

 reddish grey timber. 



Michelia Ckampaca, the Champa, principally Northern 

 India, with a durable, soft, olive- brown heart, very useful 

 in building. 



Calophyllum inophyllum, an evergreen of South India 



p 2 



