We learn from Dampier that the commodities sent from Jamaica to procure a return cargo of logwood 
from Campeachy, were rum and sugar, “ and very good commodities,” says the sailor, “were these for the 
logwood-cutters, who were then (1675) about 250 men, most English.” * * * “ Neither was it long,” 
he adds, “ before we had these merchants come on board to visit us ; we were but six men and a boy in the 
ship, and all little enough to entertain them : for besides what rum we sold by the gallon or firkin, we sold 
it made into punch, wherewith they grew frolicksome. We had none but small arms to fire at their drink- 
ing healths, and therefore the noise was not very great at a distance, but on board the vessel we were loud 
enough till all our liquor was spent. We took no money nor expected any, for logwood was what we came 
hither for, and we had of that in lieu of our commodities after the rate of five pound per ton, to be paid at 
the place where they cut it.” 
This occasional festivity, a prospect perhaps of making more than by regular labour in the British 
colonies, and the entire freedom from all restraint, were circumstances likely to recommend the life of a 
logwood-cutter in spite of its frequent hardships. It had such charms to the adventurous Dampier himself, 
that he soon returned and settled for ten or twelve months at Campeachy, and left that place with the inten- 
tion of again returning for a longer stay. He thus quaintly describes the manner in which the logwood men 
lived. 
“ The logwood-cutters inhabit the creeks of the east and west lagunes in small companies, building 
their huts by the creeks’ sides for the benefit of the sea breezes, as near the logwood groves as they can, 
removing often to be near their business : yet when they are settled in a good open place, they choose rather 
to go half a mile in their canvas to work than lose this convenience. Though they build their huts but 
slightly, yet they take care to thatch them very well with palm or palmet leaves, to prevent the rains, which 
are there very violent, from soaking in. 
“ For their bedding they raise a barbecue or wooden frame, three foot and a half above ground, on one 
side of the house, and stick up four stakes at each corner one to fasten their curtains, out of which there is 
no sleeping for moskitoes. Another frame they raise covered with earth, for a hearth to dress their victuals, 
and a third to sit at when they eat it. During the wet season, the land where the logwood grows is so over- 
flowed, that they step from their beds into the water, perhaps two foot deep, and continue standing in the 
wet all day till they go to bed again; but nevertheless account it the best season for doing a good day’s 
labour in. 
“ Some fell the trees, others saw and cut them into convenient logs, and one chips off the sap, and he 
is commonly the principal man ; and when a tree is so thick that after it is logged it remains still too great 
a burthen for one man, we blow it up with gunpowder. The logwood-cutters are generally sturdy strong 
fellows, and will carry burthens of three or four hundred weight ; but every man is left to his choice to carry 
what he pleaseth, and commonly they agree very well about it, for they are contented to labour very hard. 
* * * In some places, especially in the west creek of west lagune, they go a hunting wild cattle every 
Saturday, to provide themselves with beef for the week following. * * * When they have killed a beef 
they cut it into quarters, and taking out the bones, each man makes a hole in the middle of his quarter just 
big enough for his head to go through, then puts it on like a frock, and trudgeth home ; and if he chanceth 
to tire, he cuts off some of it and throws it away.” 
The hides of these wild cattle, and many which they killed merely for their hides, were another valuable 
article of commerce to these hardy adventurers. Many of these men made considerable sums of money ; 
and Dampier remarks, generally, that those who had the advantage of some education, were careful to im- 
prove their time, industrious and frugal ; but that those who did not possess this advantage, “ would extra- 
vagantly squander away their time and money in drinking and making bluster.” 
The logwood-tree grows abundantly throughout whole districts in Jamaica. Besides being cultivated 
as a dye-wood, it is used for other purposes. It is found well adapted for making strong full hedges, and 
is constantly planted for this purpose, no other fences being seen in many parts of the island. It is excel- 
lent for fuel, and, according to Dampier, is advantageously used in hardening or tempering steel. The wood 
of this tree is very hard and heavy ; it is of a deep orange red colour ; it yields its colour both to aqueous 
and spirituous menstruse, but the latter extracts it the most readily and copiously. A decoction of this wood 
is of a deep violet or purple colour, which after a time changes to a yellowish tint, and becomes finally black. 
Like that of Brazil-wood it is made yellow by acids and deepened by alkalis. Although an adjective dye, it 
can be made very durable by the judicious application of mordants. With alum and tartar it produces a 
violet dye ; with acetate of copper, a fine blue. But its principal use is in dyeing black, to which it gives a 
superior lustre, and in the production of all the different shades of grey. It contains a large proportion of 
gallic acid, whence it is that in combination with acetate of iron, the black colour is produced. 
Logwood is imported into England in large blocks, at the very small import duty of three shillings per 
ton ; that brought from foreign countries is chargeable with fifty per cent, higher duty. The average annual 
importation for the last five years has been 14,092 tons. The average price for the best logwood during that 
time has been £3 10s. per ton. 
Several other vegetable substances are capable of producing a violet, purple, or claret colour. They are 
not used extensively, if at all, in modern manufactures. 
