334 
Vegetables of Ceylon. 
is found to be of great value, and is applied to the most use- 
ful purposes. Owing to the firm texture of this wood, which 
is uncommonly hard,, it is able both to endure the intense heat 
of the sun without splitting, and also to resist the attacks of 
ants and other vermin with which warm climates abound. On 
these accounts tick-wood is much used for tables, chairs, and 
other pieces of household furniture, as well as for building ves- 
sels, &c. which are much exposed to the rays of the sun. At 
Bombay it is frequently employed in the construction of ships; 
and these are found quite as durable and adapted for every 
service as those made of oak. 
Nando-iuood is also used in furniture of various sorts ; but it 
is not by any means so highly esteemed for this or any other 
purpose as tick-wood. 
Satin-iuood is very much employed by the Dutch in their ta- 
bles, chairs, and couches ; and when properly finished it has a 
very handsome appearance. 
The most beautiful wood however which the island affords 
is the calamander. The colour is nearly black with white and 
brownish streaks, which, when it is highly polished, appear with 
uncommon beauty. The natives employ it much in household 
furniture and writing desks ; but although a considerable quan- 
tity of these articles are manufactured, the beauty and elegance 
of their appearance render the demand still greater, and they 
are consequently very high-priced. 
The manjapumerarn is remarkable for having a fresh and flou- 
rishing appearance during the night, while its boughs begin to 
droop as soon as the sun appears above the horizon, and do 
not again raise their heads till he has set. In appearance it 
resembles the olive ; and, according to the Indian poets, is the 
