158 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 
The island of Trinidad also produces the Carapo and 
the Balata trees, both of whrch attain moderate dimen¬ 
sions. 
Sample logs of the Carapo timber were a few years 
since sent to Woolwich Dockyard, with a view to their 
introduction for ship-building purposes. The wood was red 
in colour, straight in the grain, of moderate weight and 
hardness, and somewhat resembled inferior mahogany. 
It had, however, a strong tendency to split and tear 
to pieces in seasoning, and in only a few months it was 
so far deteriorated by shakes as to be unfit for almost 
any purpose in carpentry. 
The wood of the Balata tree was dark red in colour— 
fine, close, and straight in the grain—hard, heavy, strong, 
and somewhat resembled the African timber of com¬ 
merce, except that the centre of the logs was very shaky. 
Decay, with hollowness, had set in about the pith in 
some of the logs, indicating that it had commenced 
while the trees were still young, and otherwise strong 
and vigorous. 
When the logs referred to had been kept for only a 
few months to season, the ends split open very much, and 
as these splits or shakes crossed each other at nearly 
right angles, and extended rapidly, they seemed likely 
soon to separate the pieces into four quarters, a serious 
defect which disqualified them for use in large scantlings, 
and rendered them only fit for some inferior purposes. 
Judged by the samples of Carapo and Balata, it 
seems that neither are suitable for important works of 
construction; it is therefore doubtful whether any supplies 
will be now imported. 
The following woods, the growth of French Guiana, 
were selected under a commission appointed by the 
