No. 5. — 1849 ] woods of ceylon. 



141 



the shafts and other bent parts of carriages. The tree is 

 too well known as the tulip tree to require any description. 



Not the least important of these woods classed as second 

 in value are the palmyra and kitul : both palms are 

 valuable for building purposes, for which they are very 

 lasting, as well as for yeilding a good quality of jaggery ; 

 from this in some places a fine white sugar is made. The 

 former of these trees grows chiefly in the Northern Province, 

 whence a large trade is carried on to Colombo and the opposite 

 coasts of India. The chief use of the palmyra is for rafters, 

 that of the kitul for reepers. These latter are known 

 commonly as nipera reepers, and are dearer than any other 

 kind; they last in many instances for fifty or sixty years. 

 The kitul is used, in addition to the above purposes, for 

 handling tools, and for spears for hunting wild hogs and 

 porcupines. It grows in various parts of the Island, though 

 not abundantly. 



The gal-mendora is very good timber for beams, wall- 

 plating joists, planking, or similar purposes, and is much 

 used as a cheap substitute for more durable wood. It is 

 abundant in most parts of the Island, and grows to a 

 large size. 



In addition to the above enumerated, there are some 

 others of this class equally valuable, but by far too rare to 

 be cited as useful woods. 



In the third class there are a far greater number than of 

 the previous descriptions. Foremost amongst them in value 

 are the muriita, godapara, ktri-hcmbiUya, kora, gona, 

 ubberiya, kal, and dlyapara. These are all good for secondary 

 house-building use under cover, and the three former well 

 adapted for dry coopering purposes. The dlyapara and 

 muruta for casks may be ranked just before kora, kal, and 

 ubberiya. They are all light in texture, and easily worked ; 

 the most abundant of them is the kal and kora wood. 



