1884.] IN AN AFRICAN FOREST. 



IX AN AFPdCAN FOREST. 



THE first of an illustrated series of incidents of forest life whicli 

 we may occasionally present to our readers occurred in the 

 exploration of the Congo river by H. M. Stanley, below Stanley Pool, 

 and at Nzabi Creek. A steep wooded slope, covered by a thick forest 

 of tall trees, distinguished the right side of the river ; and here our 

 explorer determined to build a new canoe to replace one of nine 

 previously lost. 



Stanley noted down the following measurements of individual 

 monarchs of this forest. The largest of eight specimens of the Bas&in 

 Farldi, or Shea butter-tree, measured 12 feet round; height of 

 nnbranched stem, 55 feet: others measured 10, 11, 9, 10, and 10| 

 feet in circumference. There were also specimens of the African 

 silver beech, African ash, wild olive (Zygia sp. or Mkundi), the 

 largest 24 feet circumferential measurement ; whilst creepers, 

 euphorbias, orchids, and other types of a strictly African vegetation 

 added to the beauty of the scene. 



The tree chosen out of which to form one canoe was a species ol' 

 the Burseraceaj Boswellia, or gum-frankincense tree, 10 feet rouml 

 at the base, and with 40 feet of branchless stem, growing about a 

 hundred yards from the camp. On permission being granted by the 

 chief, a fine genial old man, the first blow of the axe was struck, and 

 in two hours, with a roaring crash awakeiiing the echoes through the 

 deej) gorge of the river, the tree fell across a high granite rock, about 

 30 feet square. When placed lengthways along the ground, the log 

 measured 37 feet 5 inches ; depth, 2 feet; breadth, 2 feet 8 inches. 

 Each of the crew then became a shipbuilder, 3^ feet being allotted 

 as one man's share ; and in eight days the canoe was completed. 



As Henry Stanley will shortly visit Edinburgh to inaugurate the 

 Scottish Geographical Society, many Scottish gardeners and foresters 

 may be stirred up to take fresh interest in the dark continent, 

 seeing that not a few of their number have already aided in spreading 

 •civilization and < 'hristianity through some of its borders. 



