INTKODUCTION 



The following notes on the general character and vegetation of 

 the Olmn district have been kindly supplied hy Mr. Talhot. 



The Oban district of South Nigeria * lies within the bend of 

 the Cross River at a distance of 40 to 100 miles from the Gulf 

 of Guinea. It is bounded on the East by the German Cameroons, 

 of which it is, botanically speaking, an offshoot, though apparently 

 exceeding its neighbour in the luxuriance of its vegetation. 

 Throughout the length and breadth of the land hardlj^ a level 

 spot is to be found. The average height above the sea-line varies 

 from about 300 to 900 feet, with masses of hills rising towai'ds 

 the centre into a clearly marked watershed, nearly 4000 feet 

 high. The greater number of these hills have been climbed by 

 us, but height seemed hardly to influence the luxuriance, or even 

 type, of vegetation. 



The rocks of the district are very ancient and consist 

 mostly of gneiss or granite, pierced by veins of iron ore 

 and other minerals. The weathering of these has produced a 

 soil very favourable to growth. This, mixed with the deep 

 accumulation of rich vegetable humus and mould in the dense 

 shade of these tropical forests, forms, in the warm damp climate, 

 a kind of vast natural forcing bed, from which spring an almost 

 inexhaustible variety of flowering plants and trees. These grow 

 up with such incredible rapidity that I have found it diflncult to 

 recognise sites, which were under cultivation five years before. 

 The land is drained by a close network of rivers, which meander 

 through the deep green of the " bush," like the veins of some 

 giant leaf, or leap down the hill-sides in a series of cascades and 

 waterfalls. 



The forests of Oban are usually described as within the ever- 

 green belt, but, though evergreens predominate, more careful 

 study discloses the presence of a very large proportion of 

 deciduous trees, many of which burst into leaf and flower twice 



* A map of the district will be found with Mr. Talbot's communication 

 to the Geographical Journal (xxxvi. C37). 



