THE MAHOGANY-TREE. 265 



account of the size of the wood it furnishes ; but the branches 

 are also of value, from their grain being closer and more 

 variegated. 



While one party is employed in cutting down the trees, an- 

 other is engaged in forming a main road to the nearest river, 

 with others from the various spots where the axemen are at 

 work leading to it. This operation is concluded by the end 

 of December. The trees are now sawn into logs of various 

 lengths, and are squared by the axe, in order to lessen their 

 weight, and to prevent them from rolling in the truck. When 

 the dry weather sets in — about April or May — trucking com- 

 mences. The trucks are drawn by seven pair of oxen. 

 Each is accompanied by two drivers, sixteen men to cut food 

 for the cattle, and twelve to load the trucks. In consequence 

 of the hot sun during the day, trucking is always carried on 

 at night. A wild scene is presented while the trucks are 

 moving from the forest, each accompanied by several men 

 carrying torches, the drivers cracking their whips and utter- 

 ing their shouts. Thus they go on till they reach the river's 

 brink, when the logs — each marked with the owner's initials 

 — are thrown into the water, and the trucks return for a fresh 

 load. When the rains commence, the roads are impassable, 

 and all trucking ceases. 



As the rivers are swelled by the rains, the mahogany-logs 

 are floated away, followed by the gangs in flat-bottomed 

 canoes, called pit-pans. Their crews are employed in liberat- 

 ing the logs from the branches of the overhanging trees and 

 other impediments, till they are stopped by a beam placed 

 near the mouth of the river. The logs of each owner are 

 now collected into large rafts, in which state they are 

 floated down to the wharves of the proprietors. Here 



