ROMANCE OF LOGWOOD

Evening Star, Issue 20981, 21 December 1931, Page 11

ROMANCE OF LOGWOOD

Tlie logwood tree of Yucatan is uglylooking stuif when -cut down and stripped of its branches. But its heartwood (smelling almost like violets)] yields matter for dyes of various kinds.: Mr 11. B. Oram, writing in the November number of ‘ The P.L.A. Monthly,’' reminds us that the secret of these dyes was first in the hands of the Portuguese who had stations in Brazil, where the tree was also found. Ho goes on to point out that:— “The history of logwood cutting is" one. long struggle against the archenemy, Spain. Even when there was nominally peace in Europe between England and Spain the strife went bitterly forward in Central America. In' spite of such opposition, by the year, 1652, logwood and its valuable properties, as well as its port of shipment,; must have become fairly well known here. It is referred to as ‘ the log- / wood or campeache tree.’ Actually, a. band of Englishmen had in the previous decade been expelled from Buatan,one of the Bay Islands, and had in the true bucanecring spirit of the age, : reached the mainland, capturing the town of Campeachy. It was held by, them until reinforcements from the neighbouring Spanish garrisons recaptured it. A certain Captain James had in 1650 captured a Spanish ship laden' with logwood, which ho brought in’ safety to London. The demand for dyes was then so great that £IOO per ton’ was paid for his ugly-looking cargo.’*'