XLIV. LEGUMINOS^. 193 



numerous very interesting species suddenly appear, both shrubby 

 and arborescent as well as climbers ; the elegant Cassia mimosoides 

 L., with several other species not less handsome, and an arborescent 

 one of the same genus, clothe the primitive forests ; the critical 

 genera Mezoneuruvi, Berlinia, Baphia^ and Vouajxc, contain 

 various species, several of which were not previously known ; also 

 a new Intsia, with its head shaped like a parasol, in company 

 with two arborescent species of Bauhinia, and usually mixed with 

 various trees of other orders. In the highland region all this is 

 changed, as here occur masses of arborescent Caesalpiniese, consti- 

 tuting at least in certain stations almost exclusively the forests 

 on the elevated table-land of Pungo Andongo, known locally by 

 the name of Matas de Panda, the physiognomy and phytographical 

 character of which are totally different from those of the primitive 

 forests of Golungo Alto and the other districts belonging to the 

 mountainous region. The timber in the greater proportion of the 

 trees of this sub-order furnish excellent material for the various 

 domestic purposes ; and that of M-Pundo, Intsia cuanzensls 

 0. Kuntze, is much valued by the natives for making articles for 

 presents, as, for example, the drum of Marimbas, the principal 

 musical instruments in use among the natives. Among the 

 medicinal plants mention should be made of the Mulolo, Bauhinia 

 reticulata DG., the bark of which is used in decoction to cleanse 

 impure ulcers, and of the Mudianhoca, Cassia occidentalis L., an 

 herbaceous plant whose root is very bitter and used with good 

 results in cases of intermittent fevers. The tamarind, Tamarindus 

 indica L., is frequently cultivated in the coast region; but 

 although it is found growing wild by the banks of streams in various 

 places, it was certainly introduced from the East Indies ; it not 

 very often occurs in the mountainous region, and it is still rarer 

 in the highlands. The fruit and pulp of the tamarind in the 

 chemists' shops in Loanda come from Brazil. Ccesaljnnia pulcher- 

 rima Sw. is generally cultivated and thrives well in all the regions, 

 growing at times — as, for instance, in Pungo Andongo — into small 

 trees with bushy heads covered with innumerable very beautiful 

 flowers of the brightest scarlet ; a decoction of the root is 

 administered by the negro doctors in cases of intermittent fever, 

 and an infusion of the leaves, they aflB.rm, acts like leaves of senna. 

 Cassia Sieheriana DC, an arborescent plant, whose pods measure 

 14 to 24 inches and much resemble those of C. Fistida L., occurs, 

 though rarely, in the forests of the fortress of Pungo Andongo, and 

 becomes more frequent in Songo and the eastern Congo, where the 

 natives call it " Mossambe " and the fruit " Mosua." Among the 

 species whose introduction into Angola ought to be attempted, 

 especially in the district of Loanda, Welwitsch specified the 

 following : — The Algaroba bean {Ceratonia Siliqua L.), the Judas 

 tree {Cercis Siliquasti-um L.), and the Honey-locust tree or thorn 

 of Virginia {Gleditsia triacanthos L.) ; all these trees possess a 

 beautiful habit, and are content with a dry or rocky light soil. 

 The sub-order Mimosese occurs with more or less abundance in 



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