CHAPTER VII. 



The Forests — Gorgeous Vegetation — A peculiar Tree — The Cedro — 

 Native Bungoes — Different Timbers of the Isthmus— The India Rub- 

 ber Tree — Method of collecting and preparing the Gum — The Milk 

 Tree — The Calabash Tree — Objectional Feature of the Isthmus 

 Forests. 



Although the palms may be considered one of the 

 most distinguished features of the Isthmus forests, yet 

 they are but one of the many trees which consti- 

 tute the wood growth of this country. The different 

 kinds or species are seemingly innumerable ; so 

 much so, that one would readily immagine himself 

 placed in the midst of a vast collection of the vege- 

 table kingdom from all nations, so thickly are they 

 congregated, and so widely differing in appearance. 

 Beside the giant of the forest, two or three centu- 

 ries old, and measuring in circumference thirty- 

 five and sometimes sixty feet, will be found the 

 spindling trunk, not more than two or three inches 

 thick, yet stretching away to a height altogether out 

 of proportion to its size, to reach the sunlight which 

 occasionally comes shimmering down through the 

 green canopy above, in bright streams to entice it on 

 its way. Nor is this all ; each sturdy trunk will 



