The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-07-06
MAHOGANY.

aSuckahy Was useu a. ~ c1AAI
period by the spaniards for shipbuild-
ing. The first mention ofs it occurs
shortly after the discovery Of the New
Werld, when Cortez and bis compan.
ions employed ii in the construction Of
the ships which they built for prosecu-
ting their voyages of discovery after
their conquest Of Mexico. In 1897 it
was used in the repairs Of Sir Walter
Raleigh's ships in the West Indies. In
1851 we fnd il spoken of as the best
wood for canoes. Owing to its size q
canoe capable Of carrying 40 persons
could be made from the trunk Of q
single tree. For shipbuilding it was
considered more durable than oak. re-
sisting gun-sbots. and burying the shot
without splinteriDg. Mahogany was
first imported into Eogland in its un-
manufactured state in 1924. and it will.
perhaps, be interesting to mention the
account Of its introduction. A few
pIanks, it is related. wers sent to DIR.
Gibbons, of London. By brother. who
was West India captain. Tie doctor
was erecting house on King street,
Covent Garden. and gave the plaDks TO
the workmen, who rejected them as
being too hard. The doctors cabinet
maker. named WolIaston, was then
employed to make candle box of
them, and as he was saving out the
planks he also complained of the hard
ness of the timber; but when the can
die box was finished it outshone in
beauty all the doctors other furniture,
and became an object of curiosity and
exhibition. The wood was then taken
into favor. The mahogany is described
as being one Of the most beautiful and
majestic Of trees; its trunk is often SO
feet in length and IL feet in diameter.
and it divides into 80 many huge
branches. and throws the shades of its
shining green leaves over 30 vast an
extent of surface, that more mag.
nifcent or more useful object is not to
be met with in the vegetable world
The precise period of its growth IL moi
accurately known; but as. when large,
it changes little during the life of man
the time of its arriving ct maturity il
probably not less than 200 years. There
are three species of mahogany. the first
Swietenis. being the common mahog
any known to the wood trade. Thii
species is native CT the West Indie
Islands and the central parts of Amer
lea. 1t used formerly to grow in grea
abundance along the coast Of Jamaica
but having in process Of time beer
almost extermipated it is now only t
be seen in the mountainous recesses ant
inaccessible districts Of the island.
was once also plentiful at the Bahama
where il grew ON the rocks to g-ea
hight. II was named after the cele
DRAFTED Baron Won Swieten, physician
to Maria Theresa. Empress Of Germany
The second species. mahogani .tebrifugc
or East India mahogany, is describe
as tree of vast size, growing in th
mountainous parts of central Hindos
tan. with lofty. straight trunk, cove.
ed with gray, seabrous bark. exter
nally reddish. and OF q bitter astrir
gent flavor; branches Numerous, til
lower ones spreading and the uppt
ascending; leaves alternate. abrupt
pinnate, about foot long. leaflets Of
posite, stocked obtuse and imarginat
panical large, terminal diifnse, bearin
numerous small, inodorous flower
fruit large. greyish. The wood is
dull red color. and harder and heavi,
than common mahogany. The nativ
Of India account 1t the most lasting tin
Der their country produces, and ther
fore they employ it in their sacrt
buildings, aud upon every occasiC
whore they wish to combine strengi
, with durability. DR.. Roxburg. the di
coverer of this species. states that Il
, bark is superior in virtue to that Of Il
Peruvian. The third species Of mi
hogany is the ehlororyioa. Il is chief
found in Bengal. and does not va
materially In its botanical charact
from the other tive. The tree Is not
large; the wood 10 II deep yello