EXPEDITION UP THE KWORA. 251 





assistants by a very difficult path, beyond the region of Palms, towards 

 that of large forest-trees, some having fine upright stems upwards of 

 a hundred feet in height. Several fine examples of the red wood of 

 the island were seen, but without any possibility of getting leaves or 

 flowers, which can only be obtained when a tree is cut down. The 

 trunks of the larger ones are all furnished with laminar buttresses, like 

 those of Bombax. Oldjieldia Africana is said to be common, but we 

 have not yet fallen in with it. We have got many very fine Ferns, and 

 a few Orchids, one very singular one, probably new, and yesterday we 

 found a Kigelia, with fruit and flower, the former differing from what 

 I found up the Niger. Altogether I think you will find several novel- 

 ties from this island, and if we ever happen to be here just after the 

 rainy season, we shall make a fine collection. My assistants now are 

 in excellent condition and training for the Niger, and by attending 

 closely to my directions, have kept their health perfectly, though under 

 the old system they would have been laid up long before this. The 

 cases, etc., will be consigned as before to Messrs. W. Laird and Co., 

 Liverpool, to whom instructions about them may be previously sent ; 

 there will be two at least, if not three. 



I enclose also lists of the fruits we observed at Sierra Leone, and 

 those of this island ; attached to the dried plants are any notes of in- 

 formation we have been able to collect about their uses by the natives. 

 From Sierra Leone we brought away seeds of the following, not now 

 known up the Niger, which I wish to introduce there, viz. Orange, 

 Avocado Pear, Mango, Guava, Granadilla, Sweet-sop, Rose-apple, and 

 a number of Pine-apple tops. Bound Sierra Leone the Mango is most 

 abundant, forming magnificent trees, though about fifteen years ago 

 there was hardly one in the colony. I am sorry I did not get seeds of 



the Mangosteen, to try to introduce into Africa. 



W. Balfour Baikie. 



The Mowing is the list of African fruits alluded to in the above 



extracts : 



I. Fruits observed at Sierra Leone.— I. Plantain, three varieties. 2. 

 Banana, four ditto, viz. a, Mary, the smallest ; b, Jamaica, triangular 

 ■ fruit ; c, red, firmer consistence, fine flavour, deep peach-red ; d, com- 

 mon. 3. Bread-fruit. 4. Monkey Apple. 5. Mango, four varieties, 

 a, common; b, cherry, small; c, peach, large, fine peach-tmt, and best 

 flavour, identical, I believe, with what is called No. 14 in the West 



