The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1859-08-06
NJ MBER 49,.
FOR THE DEMOCRAT.
A CURIOSITY.


Nh EDITOR. With this communication, YOU
will find a specimen of most remarkable wood
preservation, which has stamped all our wise men;
and after telling you oil We know about it, We
will leave the game with your readers for their
theories, as to what it is, where it came from, and
what is to become Of it. This curiosity exists in
the shape Of quite mass of once organized vege-
table matter or growth, now extinct; being
unlike any production of the present age, or for
est, differing in shape edour, texture or color.
In shape, 1t ia huge mass, rising above the
surrounding level, to the height of five or six
feet, crowned with curling grain, in shape net
unlike low crowned leaden -colored felt hat, in-
to which the imagination ccnvertsit without much
effort. This stump, if such it is, hos no lateral
roots, and but one tap or center root At short
distance so striking is its resemblance to large
man With his back towards you, that more than
one gentleman has been deceived nor discovered
their mistake until several questions have been
addressed to its silent majesty, Indeed, It was
this peculiar shape that first brought it into notice
some years since. It's texture, you will observe
by reference TO the specimen forwarded, is almost
as close as lead, cutting with a smooth, polished
surface, which is entirely free from grit It's
odour is rich aroma, which. after soft rains,
may be inhaled at distance of many yards from
the stump It's color externally is deep bleuisb
onst, and found over its entire surface. This
blush cast spreads itself a thin paste, which
is entirely mpervious When broken by the axe,
,L,, fha, ,p;,t
surfaces, OF the end of a few days, when the
wounds no longer slough, but heals, as it were
by first intention
For twenty two years, to our certain knowledge
has this specimen resisted alike the heat Of sum-
mer and rains Of winter, without losing one mite
of its weight. color, or size--perfectly indepen-
dent of times ruthless landings How much
further its existence dates back IN the past we
cannot conceive but there it stands, in solitary
grandeur, the only relic of its kind, which we
verify believe has been freightng the surrounding
air for centuries gone by, with its delicious per .
fume Small fragments are now being used to
scent with its pleasant aroma, our parlors, and,
like musk, it never loses any appreciable weight
or odor. This production Of sterile red oak
ridge, would, perhaps, never have been made the
subject of newspaper item, had it remained in
the woods, but recently, these have been felled,
and the lands cultivated, which brings us often
in contact with it, when many are astonished to
discover the facts that all efforts to consume the
curiosity by fire, which was frequently tried when
the brush was burned about it in clearing up the
lands, have proved signal failure
! These, Mr.. Editor are facts, which, if you have
the curiosity to test, you can be gratifed in, by
visiting the premises of the Rev. J. W. Purvis,
ten miles northeast of Yazoo City, where, have
no doubt, that gentleman will take great pleasure
in relating his acquaintance with this strange
vegetable nondescript and production.
PAX.