134 
TIMBER 
Brauna do Sertao* {Buttinum ferrugineiLin) , a red coloured 
timber, is used for general construction in Baliia, and is 
one of the two most valuable woods for sleepers — aroeira 
being the other — both having a life of over sixteen years 
on the San Francisco Eailway, Bahia. 
Folha de Bolo {Vcrmelha) is a wood of red colour, the 
grain is long and fibrous, and fairly good to work. It is 
useful for general purposes, and may be depended upon 
either on surface or underground and either for wet or 
dry situations. 
Weighs about 55 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Folha de Bolo {Branca) is closer in grain than the above, 
and is an excellent timber of nearly white or light brown 
colour. It can be got in large logs up to 130 cubic feet. 
Weight 56 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Balsamo (Myroxylon), a scented and useful wood of reddish 
brown colour, only to be got up to 50 ft. cube, is rather 
uncommon. As sleepers it has a life of over ten years. 
Weight about 59 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Candeia is a very tough and durable timber ; the maximum 
length in which it can be obtained is 20 ft. with a diameter 
of about 7 inches at the butt ; the colour is nearly white. It 
is much used in mines. 
Weight 63 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Cedro {Ccdrela hrasiliensis), of brown or reddish colour, 
is one of the many cedars found in Brazil and other places, 
a valuable scented wood, used in its native district for 
doors, ceilings, windows, furniture, patterns, clothes chests, 
■■' Sertao is an Indian term meaning " far west." " The traveller is 
always aproaching the Sertao and yet hears that it is still some days 
off." — Burton's " Highlands of Brazil." 
