Thanks!

the link didn't fire but I went straight to the site and did a search. The name turned out to be "obeche" in most document headlines.

The info seems encourageing, only seeming drawback being sensibility to moisture, so a paddle would need to be finished properly.

They have a useful-looking .pdf on wood, I'll see if the url when pasted here will work. Others might find it useful as well.

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/DOCUMNTS/FPLGTR/fplgtr113/CH01.pdf#xml=http://www.fs.fed.us/cgi-bin/texis/searchallsites/search.allsites/xml.txt?query=obeche&db=allsites&id=3bbbff540

: The U.S. Forest Service has a specification page for this African wood. It is
: used for furniture, saunas, and artificial limbs among others. If you've
: got some, why not make a paddle and see?