1102 Report on the Timber Trees of Bengal. [Nov. 



crack by the weather, and the grain is so fine that the smallest work 

 with the highest polish could be done in it." 



19. Kendoo — Ebony. There are several kinds of Ebony in India ; 

 in fact there is no part that does not contain at least two or three dif- 

 ferent species of Biosjnjros, all of which produce more or less black 

 wood, but D. melanoxylon is superior to any other. I imagine there is 

 no wood more durable than Ebony, and no insect can do it any harm. 

 I refer only to the heart of the tree ; the outside wood which composes 

 the largest parts of many trees, is attacked immediately by all kinds of 

 insects. In central India, where the Ebony grows to a large size and 

 is very commonly used for beams in houses, a large tree is cut down, 

 and left for a year, when it will be found with all the light coloured 

 wood eaten away, and the hard and durable Ebony alone left ; car- 

 penters are very loath to use the wood, as it injures their tools 

 very much, and with many the fine particles which come off in the 

 working, cause intolerable sneezing. Every one is aware of the beauty 

 of Ebony if well polished, but few perhaps imagine that it is to be 

 procured in such abundance as it is. It is to be found in every jungle 

 of India. 



Ablooya, Kyan, Gab, Oorigab — Are all well known native names 

 for different species of good useful Ebony. All these trees are species 

 in the neighbourhood of Calcutta, and some very fine trees of the 

 Kyan, Biospyros tomentosa, occur at Allipore. The Gab is known 

 and used as a paying substance for boats by all natives — and it will 

 very probably be found that Gutta Percha, which in time must become 

 one of the most valuable exports from the straits of Malacca, is a spe- 

 cies of Biospyrus. 



20. Jarool — Lagerstromia. This is the pretty tree that so orna- 

 ments most of our woods with its beautiful light purple flower in June. 

 There appears to be very various opinions regarding the merits of the 

 wood as such, which while one variety is strongly recommended, another 

 is equally strongly condemned. It is therefore necessary to be very 

 cautious in using it. Capt. Baker writes of red Jarool as a fine wood 

 growing to a great size in Chittagong, but brought to the Calcutta 

 market too small to be of much use except for picture frames and other 

 similar purposes. The Chittagong forests are said to be nearly cleared 

 of the best, a thorny species of Jarool, — the others are of little value. It 



