On the tree called cuya.

Translated by Lucy Brown ’23

Cuya is a large tree of beautiful hard wood, almost or a little less hardy than the corbana described in the previous chapter; but this one is easier to work with and prettier in color and grain. Beautiful beams are made from it, and if they do well over time and prove to be more durable than those made from caoban it will be used by many. Those engaged in building have begun to use them for some of their beams, to see how they fare. This wood is mostly used at present in stables to store equipment such as brushes and other instruments, or to build handles for sets of tools for carpentry, drilling or carving, for their durability and pretty luster. And from the wood of this tree I had them make an axle for a cart bearing a heavy culverin at the fortress, made from more than seventy quintales[1] of bronze; and it holds it so gallantly and without apparent effort, despite it being a heavy load to pull, that I think it is the only wood for such things, because the load to bear is as heavy as the axle is thin, and can’t be made thicker without weakening the gun carriage or box where the culverin rests. Despite this, it holds up very well, and it is thought that it will prove more durable than any other wood. And through this axle the alcaide who replaces me will understand what I will not get to see, so he will have notice of it.

[1] A quintal, hundredweight, or center is a historical unit of mass usually defined as 100 base units, such as pounds or kilograms.