1848,] SAW-MILL. 19 



i 



attention ; while many have peculiar cries, in which words 

 may easily be traced by the fanciful, and which in the stillness 

 of the forest have a very pleasing effect. 



On reaching the mills we found it was one o'clock, the 

 interesting objects on the road having caused us to linger for 

 six hours on a distance of scarcely twelve miles. We were 

 kindly welcomed by Mr. Leavens, who soon set before us 

 substantial fare. After dinner we strolled round the premises, 

 and saw for the first time toucans and paroquets in their native 

 haunts. They frequent certain wild fruit-trees, and Mr. 

 Leavens has many specimens which he has shot, and pre- 

 served in a manner seldom equalled. There are three mills — 

 a saw-mill and two for cleaning rice. One rice-mill is driven 

 by steam, the other two by water-power, which is obtained by 

 damming up two or three small streams, and thus forming 

 extensive mill-pools. The saw-mill was recently erected by 

 Mr. Leavens, who is a practical millwright. It is of the kind 

 commonly used in the United States, and the manner of 

 applying the w^ater is rather • different from which we generally 

 see in England. There is ' a fall of water of about ten feet, 

 which, instead of being applied to an overshot or breast-wheel, 

 is allowed to rush out of a longitudinal aperture at the bottom, 

 against the narrow floats of a wheel only twenty inches in 

 diameter, which thus revolves with great velocity, and com- 

 municates motion by means of a crank and connecting-rod 

 directly to the saw, which of course makes a double stroke to 

 each revolution of the wheel. The expense of a large slow- 

 motion wheel is thus saved, as well as all the gearing necessary 

 for producing a sufficiently rapid motion of the saws ; and the 

 whole having a smaller number of working parts, is much less 

 liable to get out of order, and requires few repairs. The 

 platform carrying the log is propelled on against the saw in the 

 usual manner, but the method of carrying it back at the end, 

 of the cut is ingenious. The water is shut off from the main, 

 wheel, and let on at another shoot against a vertical wheel, on 

 the top of the upright shaft of which is a cog-wheel working 

 into a rack on the frame, which runs it back with great 

 rapidity, and in the simplest manner. One saw only is used, 

 the various thicknesses into which the trees are cut rendering 

 more inconvenient. 



We here saw the different kinds of timber used, both in the 



