THE ROMANCE OF LOGWOOD

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1931, Page 6

THE ROMANCE OF LOGWOOD

The logwood tree of Yucatan is uglylooking stuff when cut down and stripped of its branches. But its heart wood '(smeding almost like violets) yields matter for dyes of various kinds. LMr It. B. Grain, writing in the November number of “The P.L.A, Monthly,” reminds us that the secret of these dyes was first in the Ttands of the Portuguese who had stations in Brazil, where the tree was also found. Ife goes on to point out that:

“The history of logwood cutting is one long struggle against the archenemy, Spain. Even when there wa.. nominally peace in Europe between England and Spain the strife went bitterly forward in Central America. Tn spite of such opposition by the year 1652, logwood and its valuable proper

ties, as well as its port of shipment, must have become fairly well' known here. It is referred to as ‘the Logwood or Oampeachy tree.' Actually, a band of 'Englishmen had in the previous decade been expelled from Biiatan, one of the Bay Islands, and had in the true buccaneering spirit of the age, ■reached the mainland, capturing the town of Oampeachy. 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 he brought in safety to London. The demand for dyes waß then so great that £IOO per ton was plaid d'or his ugly-looking cargo.”