WELWITSCH 



291 



m any spot one or more pieces of Copal, he hastens to his rela- 

 tions and to his commercial friends, telling them of his fortunate 

 treasure-trove, showing what he has found, and concludes with 

 them a kind of treaty of partnership, whereby he becomes entitled 

 to the larger share in the probable gains. The members of this 

 partnership then provide themselves ■v\ath digging-implements, in- 

 cluding large sacks, mostly fnade of the bark of the Adansonia or 

 Bapliia leaves, and they then proceed to the indicated spot to 

 commence researches, . As is natural, such a spot and its neigh- 

 bourhood are not left until the diggers have convinced themselves 

 V that they have completely exhausted the district, or that no more 

 Grmn Copal is to be found beyond the first indicating pieces. In 

 the latter case it is supposed that the first pieces met with y^^eve 

 washed down from afar, and further researches are then made 

 accordingly. 



On these journeys the Copal-gatherers often separate from 

 each other for several days, during which time they pass the 

 nights round a fire in caverns, or in places hidden by thickets, 

 so as to recommence their work early every morning. Searching 

 after Gum Copal is frequently combined with the gathering of 

 TJrzella (being different varieties of Boccella fuciformis growing 

 on trees), which, however, only takes place on that part of the 

 littoral region which is situated near the coast, as this lichen 

 does not grow far inland; even on the border of the first moun- 

 tain-terrace it is only seen here and there in single specimens, 

 or it entirely disappears. On these occasions the Gum-Copal 

 seekers also gather several other gums, including the Gum 

 Arabic, which is found on the Acacias in these countries. This 

 accounts for the fact that amongst the Gum Copal which is 

 brought to market a few resins and pieces of Gum Arabic are 

 also found. 



If after prolonged researches in the same district no more 

 Gum Copal is found, the diggers leave that place ; the secured 

 resin is cleaned hj washing, and packed in sacks, to be ready 

 for sale in the markets on the coast. Difierent varieties of Gum 

 Copal of unequal value being often obtained on the same 

 spot, the resin, when brought to market, has to be sorted before 

 being sold. It is classified mostly according to its colour; and 

 the price is determined by weight. The deep-coloured quality is 

 generally worth double the price of the ligliter sort. 

 This brings us to- 

 ll. Considerations on the different varieties of the Gum Copal 



