The curiỹ resembles the European pine in its leaves and in its height,
but exceeds it in the hardness of its wood, which is pale, with red
veins. The knots and swellings particularly which grow on the
Paraguayrian pine are almost as hard as a stone. Of these large knots
the Guaranies turn rosaries and images of the saints very neatly. When
placed by the fire, the red rosin lurking in the veins of the wood is
melted, so that they seem as if varnished with a beautiful red colour,
and shine surprizingly.