INDIA, BURMA, AND ANDAMAN ISLANDS 175 
temples. The timber is somewhat cross grained like sal, 
but is not much attacked by ants. 
Jaman {Eugenia jambolana), which is generally found 
along river banks, produces a hard, close-grained, dark red 
wood, rather liable to warp, but which is not much attacked 
by worms, and is used in native buildings and for agricul- 
tural implements, in Ajmere for lining wells, and is fairly 
durable as sleepers. Jaman is only a small tree. 
Weight of wood about 48 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo) is one of the three Indian 
species of rosewood, D. latifolia and D. cultrata being the 
others. One of the most valuable of Indian timbers where 
strength and elasticity are required, it is the best of Indian 
timbers for joiners' work. In strength it is only inferior 
to sal and in some ways surpasses it in value, for instance 
it is lighter. The heartwood is greyish brown, veined; 
it is very hard, remarkably strong, elastic and durable, and 
is used for all kinds of building work in North India, and 
also for the wheels of gun carriages. It seasons well and 
does not warp or split. 
D. sissoo is a beautiful tree which grows rapidly and in 
any soil. 
Weight 50 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Blackwood or Shisham, the rosewood of Southern India 
{Dalbergia latifolia), with no distinct annual rings and fine 
medullary rays, is an extremely beautiful furniture wood 
resembling the Brazilian rosewoods, and it is also used for 
agricultural implements and carving ; it is hard to work 
owing to cross grain and incrustations of lime in the grain. 
Planking rather tends to split longitudinally until well 
seasoned and takes a good while to season; the sap is 
