is part of the world is
the mahogany-tree of Honduras, well-deserving, from its magnificent
foliage and vast size, to be called the king of the forest. It is
remarkably slow of growth, its increase during half a century being
scarcely perceptible.

The life of the mahogany-cutter is wild in the extreme, yet he carries
on his occupation in a systematic manner. Parties, or gangs, are
formed, consisting of fifty men, with a captain, or hunter, attached to
each. The business of the hunter is to search out the mahogany-trees
fit for cutting. To do this, he makes his way through the thick forest
to the highest ground in the neighbourhood he can find, and then climbs
one of the tallest trees. From thence he surveys the surrounding
country in search of the foliage, which presents a yellow, reddish hue,
assumed by the mahogany--tree at that season of the year--about August.
Having thus discovered a spot on which a number of the sought-for trees
grow, he descends, and as rapidly as possible leads his party to it,
lest any others on the search should be before them. Huts are now
built, roofed with long grass, or the branches of the thatch-palm. His
furniture consists of a hammock swung between two posts, and a couple of
stones on which his kettle is supported. Stages, on which the axemen
stand, are erected round the trees, which are cut down about ten or
twelve feet from the ground. The trunk is considered most valuable, on
account of the size of the wood it furnishes; but the branches are also
of value, from their grain being closer and more variegated.

While one party is employed in cutting down the trees, another is
engaged in forming a main road to the nearest river, with others from
the various spots where the axemen are at work leading to it. This
operation is concluded by the end of December. The trees are now sawn
into logs of various lengths, and are squared by the axe, in order to
lessen their weight, and to prevent them from rolling in the truck.
When the dry weather sets in--about April or May--trucking commences.
The trucks are drawn by seven pair of oxen. Each is accompanied by two
drivers, sixteen men to cut food for the cattle, and twelve to load the
trucks. In consequence of the hot sun during the day; trucking is
always carried on at night. A wild scene is presented while the trucks
are moving from the forest, each accompanied by several men carrying
torches, the drivers cracking their whips and u