a species of wood, exceedingly hard and heavy, susceptible of a very fine polish, and on that account used in mosaic and inlaid works, toys, and the like. There are different kinds of ebony, but the most usual amongst us are black, red, and green, and almost all of them the product of the island of Madagascar, where the natives call them indifferently *hazon mainithi*, or *black wood*. The island of Mauritius likewise furnishes part of the choicest used in Europe. Authors and travellers give very different accounts of the tree which yields the black ebony. According to some of their descriptions, it would appear to be a sort of palm tree; but according to others, a cyrus. The most authentic of these is that of Falcourt, who resided many years in Madagascar as governor. He assures us that it grows very high and large, its bark being black, and its leaves resembling those of our myrtle, of a deep dusky green colour. Tavernier says that the islanders always take care to bury their trees when cut down, in order to make them blacker, and to prevent their splitting when wrought. Plumier mentions another black ebony tree, discovered by him at St Domingo, which he calls *spar-tium portulaca folia aculeatae ebeni materia*.

Pliny and Dioscorides state that the best ebony comes from Ethiopia, and the worst from India; but Theophrastus prefers that of India. Black ebony is much preferred to that of other colours. The best is a jet black, free of veins and rind, very massive, astringent, and of an acrid pungent taste. Its rind, infused in water, is said to purge pimplas, and cure venereal disorders; and hence Matthiolus took guaiacum for a sort of ebony. It yields an agreeable perfume when laid on burning coals; when green it readily takes fire from the abundance of its fat. If rubbed against a stone it becomes brown. The Indians make statues to their gods and sceptres for their princes out of this wood. It was first brought to Rome by Pompey after he had subdued Mithridates. It is now much less used amongst us than anciently, since the discovery of so many ways of giving other hard woods a black colour.

As to the green ebony, besides Madagascar and the Mauritius, it grows likewise in the Antilles, and especially in the isle of Tobago. The tree which yields it is very bushy; its leaves are smooth, and of a fine green colour. Beneath its bark there is a white brea, about two inches thick; and all beneath this, to the very heart, is a deep green, approaching towards a black; though sometimes streaked with yellow veins. Its use is not confined to mosaic work; it is likewise employed in dyeing, as yielding a fine green tincture. As to red ebony, called also *grenadilla*, we know little more of it than the name.