DIOSPYROS EBENUM. Linn. Ebony.
Diospyros ebenaster, Betz. Hebenaster, Bumph.
Abnoos, ARAB., PERS. Kal oowara gess, SINGH.
mara, . . . CAN. Kadu beriya ? . . „ Steinholz, . . . GER. Kaka-tati ; Atcharn, TAN. "Egsves, GR. Tumbi maram, . . „ Habenim, . . . HEB. Tuki, TEL.
Tendu, Tendua (the Toomika chava, „ white wood), . . HIND. Kendhoo, . . 1.1mvA.
The timber of this great tree yields the best kind of ebony wood. In Exodus xxvii. 15, it is mentioned as brought with ivory by the men of Dedan. It seems to have been then brought both from Ethiopia and India, though Virgil appears to have been unaware of this, for he says (Georg. ii. p. 115),— Sola India nigrum Fert ebenurn.' It was highly esteemed by the ancients. In Ceylon it is found not uncommon up to an elevation of 5000 feet, in great abundance in the north of the island, and t,o some extent in the Kandyan country., The great weight of the timber renders its transport very costly, unless where water conveyance can be obtained, which is seldom the case, but during the rainy months ; and though immense forests of this woocl still exist in the island, they are to a great extent too far from a port of shipment to be available.
The exports of ebony have varied much of late years from 15,000 to 5000 cwts.
This valuable tree is not uncommon in the mountain forests on both sides of the Madras Presidency, and in Ceylon, and is well known in the Kurnool and Cuddapah forests, where it yields the best kind of ebony, generally jet black, but some times highly streaked with yellow or brown. It is very heavy, close, and even-grained, and takes a high polish ; unseasoned, it weighs 90 to 100 lbs. the cubic foot, 81 lbs. when seasoned, and has a specific gravity of 1.296. It is used for inlaying and ornamental turnery, and somethnes for furniture. The sap-wood is white, bard, close grained and strong, but not durable, but is used by the natives for various purposes. — Roxb. ; Thwaites ; Tredgold ; Holtzappfel.