August 1, 1864] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



WOODS OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 43 



it, which are submitted to a lavatory process in such a way as to pre- 

 vent every opportunity of fraud. 



The' diamond is almost always enveloped in a ferruginous crust ; 

 therefore long practice is necessary to enable persons to distinguish 

 them from the flints among which they are imbedded. 



Nor are they procured without expense. It is calculated that every 

 diamond obtained by the Government costs about eight dollars the 

 carat ! Though more than a thousand ounces have crossed the Atlantic 

 since the discovery of the mines, the whole produce of Tejuco has not 

 been put in circulation ; because this would be a sure means of reducing 

 the value of a precious stone, which, unlike others, has only an arbitrary 

 price. The same policy has forbidden the opening of the mines of 

 Goius and Matto Grosso, which are guarded by the Government from 

 the incursions of adventurers. 



At the time of the discovery of the famous diamond of the Portu- 

 guese Crown, South America was so tranquil, that it is looked upon as 

 an important event. It was found in the brook of Abayti by three 

 malefactors who had been banished, and carried to the governor of 

 mines by an ecclesiastic. 



Its size was so enormous, that repeated assays were made before 

 they were convinced of its being in reality a diamond. It was then 

 sent to Lisbon, where it excited universal astonishment, and procured 

 the pardon of the criminals. Afterwards an exploring station was fixed 

 on the banks of the Abayti, but without success ; the diamonds found 

 were of little value, and scarcely defrayed the expense of search* 



WOODS OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 



BT PROFESSOR BERNARDIN. 

 NO. II. 



Acre (Mimosa acre), Legum. — Tree of first rank, the wood of which, 

 dark reddish, is of a solid texture, waved fibre, no sensible smell, breaks 

 in long branches, shavings rude and somewhat twisted. Leaves twice 

 alated, and the folioles eight by twenty centimetres. The branches have 

 no spines. Employed for construction and boat-building. Abounds in 

 all the islands. 



Alintatao (Diospyros piloshantera ?), Guyacan, or Ebenac. — Several 

 varieties, among them the tugon or ebano, the zapote negro, and the 

 camagon. Tree of about 20m., stem of 8m. by 0.6 or 0.8 diameter. 

 Wood reddish with black spots, easily receiving a beautiful polish ; tex- 

 ture even and smooth ; fibres compressed ; pores small and nearly in- 



* Dennis. ' Histoire du Br6sil. 



