120 MOZAMBIQUE 



larger leaves and a denser foliage than the 

 females, though this characteristic cannot be 

 recognized before the trees are three years old. 

 There are certainly three oil-producing species 

 of Trichilia in Inhambane, perhaps more, the 

 most popular with the natives being known as 

 Makanata. 



The seed must be carefully dried as soon as 

 possible after collection, or the oil becomes 

 rancid. It is bought from the natives by 

 the merchants at Inhambane for 30 reis (3d.) 

 a kilo {£6 per ton) ; its commercial value 

 at the port being ^7 10s. to £S per ton 

 (1912). 



The difficulty in the way of exploiting the seed 

 is that of transport ; the sandy roads being indeed 

 the curse of the district, constituting a serious 

 obstacle to development. But I see no reason, 

 except the uncertainty of sex, which could 

 probably be got over by planting thickly upon 

 the ground and thinning out afterwards, why 

 the tree should not be profitably cultivated. 

 The trees once established would require no 

 further weeding, as they would soon completely 

 shade the ground, and could no doubt be forced 

 to early maturity. The cultivation of Mafurreira 

 might usefully be made the subject of experiment 

 by the Government, 



