640 VENEZUELA. 



especially near the sea-coast, the lignum vitas is of great value. 

 As from its hard nature it turns the edge of the best-tempered 

 tools, it serves for the construction of wharves, as well as for 

 the keels of ships, — the attacks of the teredo, or sea-worm 

 being futile upon the iron network of its fibres. It can 

 remain under water for an indefinite period without rotting, 

 and eventually becomes petrified. 



Here the guayacan, or guayacum of the arts, is found in 

 great abundance. 



The alcornoque, a beautiful tree, scarcely inferior to it, here 

 raises its graceful head above the rest, affording the cattle a 

 permanent shade during the dry season ; while in the Llanos 

 it is used in the construction of houses and fences. 



The Brazileto-wood tree grows in abundance, producing a 

 beautiful dye. 



Among others is the tree which yields the precious balsam 

 of copaiba, — extracted by making incisions in the trunk, when 

 the resinous fluid pours forth. 



The natives form their piroques or canoes from the last 

 which we will mention, the tacamahaca (the Elaphrium tornen- 

 tosium), which here attains great dimensions. The bark is of 

 the nature of the birch bark of North America, and is stripped 

 off the trees in a similar manner, the huge sheets being joined 

 at the extremities by means of slender vines, while the in- 

 terstices are filled with resin to keep out the water — the whole 

 being then bound with stronger vines, and several stieks 

 being fixed between the borders to prevent the bark from 

 collapsing. The resin of this tree, an opaque lemon-coloured 

 substance, resembles wax ; and when mixed with algoroba, it 

 forms a torch which burns with great brilliancy, and emits a 

 delicious odour. 



