■H 







66 



PAO AMARELLO. 



The louro is a large tree, and of it there are 

 three species, all of which are used principal!) 

 for the beams of houses, for the timber of them 

 rots quickly under ground, or if it be exposed to 

 the weather. The most esteemed timber for 

 doors, window-shutters, floors of houses, &c. is 

 the pao amarello, or yellow wood. This is a 

 large tree, and the name which it has obtained 

 continues to be sufficiently appropriate for the 

 first six months after it has been cut down j but 



embiriba, sapucaia, aroeira do Seriam. This last is only 

 found in parts far removed from the coast, and is accounted 

 of equal value with the pao ferro. 



Labat, in speaking of the kinds of wood which are fit foi 

 building, says, " Je ne croi pas devoir retvoyer a tin autre 

 endroit la remarque que j'ai faite sur tous les bois qiion met 

 en terre qui est, que pour peu qiiils soient bons ce n'est pas la 

 partie qui est en terre qui se pourrit ni celle qui est dehors, 

 mais settlement ce qui est au ras de terre" This I have found 

 to be true to a certain extent ; but there are some species of 

 timber which rot very quickly under ground, though the 

 part which he terms au ras de terre is certainly that which 

 decays the most speedily. He continues, " Pour t'viter cet 

 inconxievient, il faut brdler la partie qui doit etre en terre et 

 quelqucs ponces au dessus, cest-a-dire la st'eher aufeu ou dans 

 les cendrcs rouges, sans la reduire en charbon, ajin que la sevc 

 ou Vhumiditr qui s'y pourroit encore trouver, soit entierement 

 dessech'e, que les pores se re.nfermant, les parties se raj)rochent 

 les unes des autres, le bois devient plus compact et pttr con- 

 sequent plus propre h n'sisler a Vhumidite" — Nouveau 

 Voyage, torn. ii. p. 386. 



This is done in Pernambuco, and is found to be of great 

 service ; but it is only practised with those woods which art 

 known not to be naturally durable under ground. 



