Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

1829. VARIETIES OF WOOD. 281 Muermo. There is no wood produced on the island more useful than the muermo. It is used for timbers, and knees, and a]] other purposes of ship-building : and is excellent for the planks of boats, as it bears wet and dry without suffering from either. It is abundant, and much used as firewood, for which it is well suited. Luma {Myrtus Luma), a very tough and useful wood, used for tree-nails, for stakes in fencing, for rafters in the roofs of houses ; and is exported in large quantities to Lima, for shafts and poles of carriages. The fruit is sweet, and might yield a strong spirit ; it is called cauchao. Ciruelillo, a small tree, used only for washing-bowls and boxes ; it is of little value. Quiaka. Of no value. Tapu, a very crooked tree, growing along the ground in swampy places. It might serve for floors, and timbers for small vessels ; but it is not used, from its being so very hard. Tenu, something like muermo, and considered a good wood. Peta, a species of Myrtus, of which lioops for barrels are made. Ralral, considered to be like the wood of the walnut-tree, and of general use, on account of its toughness and durability ; it is made into blocks for ships. Meli, more tough than luma : of this the country people make pick-axes, for cultivating the ground (Aglieros, p. I'iT). Pelu, also tough ; useful for axle-trees and gun-carriages (Aglieros, p. 127). Mayten, useful for turning ; and lasts long under water. The above mentioned are produced on the island ; but the two following, alerse and cypress, are from the main-land, in the neighbourhood of the Cordilleras. They are not only in general use in Chiloe, but are exported in large quantities to all the. ports to the northward. The alerse, near Chiloe, is of better quality than that which comes from Concepcion. The Cypress is brought to the island in 'tablones' (orplanks), seven or eight feet long, two inches thick, and nine or ten inches wide, as is also the alerse ; but the latter, from the facility with