MAH 
try, is impatient of cold here, and difficult 
to keep in perfection, either abroad or 
housed. 
MAHERNIA, in botany, a genus of the 
Pentandria Pentagynia class and order. 
Natural order of (^olumniferae. Tiliaceas, 
\ Jussieu. Essential character; calyx five- 
toothed ; petals five ; nectaries five, obcor- 
date, placed under the filaments; capsule 
five-celled. There are three species, na- 
tives of the Cape of Good Hope. 
MAHOGANY. The swietenia mahago- 
ni, or mahogany tree, is a native of the 
warmest parts of America, and grows also 
in the island of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, 
and the Bahama islands. It abounded for- 
merly in the low lands of Jamaica ; but it is 
now found only on hills, and places difficult 
of access. This tree grows tall and straight, 
rising often sixty feet from the spm’ to the 
limbs ; and is about four feet in diameter. 
The foliage is a beautiful deep green, and 
the appearance made by the whole tree 
very elegant. The flowers are of a reddish 
or saffron colour, and the fruit of an oval 
form, about the size of a turkey’s egg. 
Some of them have reached to a monstrous 
size, exceeding one hundred feet in height. 
In felling these trees, the most beautiful 
part is commonly left behind. The negro 
workmen raise a scaffolding of four or five 
feet elevation from the ground, and hack 
up the trunk, which they cut into balks. 
The part below, extending to the root, is 
not only of larger diameter, but of a closer 
texture than the other parts, most elegantly 
diversified with shades or clouds, or dotted 
like ermine with spots ; it takes the highest 
polish, with a singular lustre. This part is 
only to be come at by digging below the 
spur, to the depth of two or three feet, and 
cutting it through ; which is so laborious an 
operation, that few attempt it, except they 
are curious in the choice of their wood, or 
to serve a particular purpose. The mahogany 
tree thrives in most soils ; but varies in 
texture and grain, according to the nature 
of the soil. On rocks it is of a smaller size ; 
but very hard and weighty, and of a close 
grain, and beautifully shaded ; while the 
produce of the low and richer lands is ob- 
served to be more light and porous, of a 
paler colour, and open grain; and that of 
mixed soils to hold a medium between both. 
This constitutes the difference between the 
Jamaica wood and that which is collected 
from the coast of Cuba and the Spanish 
Main ; the former is mostly found on rocky 
eminences; the latter is cut in swampy 
MAH 
soils, near tlie sea coast. The superior va" 
lue of tlie Jamaica wood, for beauty of co- 
louring, firmness, and durability, may there- 
fore be easily accounted for; and a large 
quantify of balks and planks is brought 
from the Spanish American coasts to Ja- 
maica, to be shipped from thence to Great 
Britain. This wood is generally hard, takes 
a fine polish, and is found to answer better 
tljan any other sort in all kipds of cabinet 
ware. It is a very strong timber, and was 
frequently used as such in Jamaica in former 
times. It is said to be used sometimes in 
ship building; a purpose for which it would 
be remarkably adapted, if not too costly ; 
being very durable, capable of resisting 
gun-shots, and burying the shots without 
splintering. 
MAHOMETANS, believers in the doc- 
trines and divine mission of Mahomet, the 
eelebrated warrior and pseudo-prophet of 
Arabia, who was born at Mecca in the year 
571. The father of Mahomet was Abdol- 
lech, descended from the Korasjiites, tribes 
who had long enjoye^ the regal dignity in 
Arabia. Notwithstanding the royal descent 
of tlie projihet, it appears that a variety of 
adverse circumstances concurred to render 
him, in the early part of his life, indigent 
and obscure. His father died before he 
was two years of age, and his mother when 
he was about eight ; so that he was left in a 
manner destitute of subsistence, and his 
education in a great measure, if not altoge- 
ther, neglected. After the death of his 
mother, he was committed to the care of 
his grandfather, who dying within a year 
afterwards, he was taken under the protec- 
tion of his uncle Taleb, a merchant of some 
respectability. There are various accounts 
relative to the manner in which Mahomet 
first began to invent and propagate his new 
system of faith and worship. It appears 
according to the Mahometan historians, that 
his pretended mission was revealed to him 
in a dream, in the fortieth year of his age. 
From that time, say his biographers, Maho- 
met, under the influence of a holy ten or 
devoted himself to a solitary life. Fie re- 
tired to a grotto in the mountain of Hira, 
which overlooks Mecca. He there passed 
his days and nights in fasting, prayer, and 
meditation. In the midst of one of these 
profound ecstasies, the angel Gabriel ap- 
peared to him, with the first chapter of the 
Koran, and commanded him to read. Ma- 
homet replied, he was unable ; upon which 
the angel repeatedly embraced him, and 
commanded him to read in tlie name of Ids 
