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TIMBEE 
when exposed to the sun. The ants only attack the bark, 
and this should be stripped off the logs before they are 
stored. There are three varieties of this timber, red, 
white, and black, but the red is considered the best. Logs 
up to 50 ft. in length and 2 to 3 ft. square can be 
obtained. From this tree is extracted by the bleeding 
process the well-known Balata, much used in the manu- 
facture of machinery belting, and an extensive trade is 
done with it in the colony. The bleeding process affects 
the colour and texture of the wood for a while. It is a 
similar wood in texture, weight, and colour to the Melkhout 
of South Africa. There is another timber called balata 
found in French Guiana, of a yellowish colour, hard, 
heavy, and strong, very suitable for furniture. 
Weight about 65 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Towaronero or Bastard Bullet Tree {Humirium fiorihundum) 
produces timber with dense close grain and a resemblance 
to that of the bullet tree, and by some is considered superior 
to greenheart where small timber is required. Logs 90 ft. 
long and 20 inches square can be got free of sap. 
Wallaba {Eperna falcata) is a dark red wood saturated 
with a sticky resin, much used for house frames, roof 
shingles, posts, and palings ; stands exposure well in all 
conditions, but is subject to attack by white ants. It has 
been used largely of late years for telegraph and elec- 
trical poles in Barbados and Trinidad. May be had in 
logs 40 ft. long and 12 to 18 inches square. 
Weight about 65 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Purple-heart {Copnifera hracteata) is one of the tall 
forest trees of British Guiana. The wood is of a purple 
colour on all cut and exposed faces ; hard, durable, close 
grained, and very tough, it makes handsome furniture and 
