78 



Cordova's Voijage of Discovery 



birch. These trees are found of all sizes ; some so large and 

 straight, that they might form masts, or any other part of the rig*- 

 ging, of a ship, if the timber were not intrinsically so heavy. The 

 timber is of a white colour, and it cleaves or splits only from top 

 to bottom : urhen the moistm*e it contains has been dried off, it 

 must be excellent for any kind of carpenter's or joiner's work. 

 The leaves form groups or bunches of different sizes in the 

 branches : their colour a bright-green j their size about that of 

 the nail of the thumb, of an oval shape, terminating in a point, 

 not quite sharp, and indented all round the edge. 



Tiie fruit is about the size of a large pea, covered with a very 

 aromatic resin or gum, affording a refreshing smell, when rub- 

 bed with the fingers. This resin likewise perspires through the 

 substance of the tree, between the coats of the fruit, and then, 

 Jbardening with the external cold, remains like a small button 

 or knob on each fruit. 



The seed is small, black, and round, like a large pea, having 

 in the centre a black powder, necessary for its propagation and 

 fecundity, which is in great abundance. 



The bark of these trees is proportioned to their size, having 

 seen that of some which were not less than thirty-five feet in cir- 

 cumference. It is easily separated from the wood, and the 

 Indians make use of it to form their canoes. 



We carried on-board several of these resinous fruits, to see 

 whether any use could be made of their virtues; and, by their 

 smell, they resembled gum copal. 



The third kind of tree, which is the most valuable, and not the 

 least common, in this part of the strait, is that which, having 

 been discovered by Captain Winter, on the south and west parts 

 of Tierra del Fuego, has obtained his name : many botanists 

 call it laurus nobilis, and the bark Winter' s-bark. There are of 

 these trees all sizes. The leaves resemble entirely those of the 

 Jaurel or bay, about five inches long, and one inch and a half in 

 their greatest breadth ; their colour a dark-green. Both the 

 leaves and the bark possess a very aromatic smell, perceived 

 %vhen they are broken or rubbed in the hand. The bark, be- 

 sides, has a sharp biting taste, bearing some resemblance to 

 pimento, and sw^eetish, which remains some time in the mouth 

 after chewing it. 



The thickness of this bark is proportioned to the size of the 

 tree itself, so that we gathered some pieces above an inch in 

 thickness. This bark consists of two coats closely united ; the 

 outer of an ash-colour, and the inner coat, when fresh cut, is of 

 a dull white; but it soon turns reddish, and at last becomes of 

 the colour of chocolate. 



