SIERRA LEONE 35 



from Sierra Leone, whence it is all exported, and also by the fact 

 that Barwood, or the Southern Nigeria Camwood, is not found in 

 Sierra Leone. 



Although the above completes the description of the most important 

 local timber trees, there are many others which might be used with 

 satisfaction. One of these trees, known as Yabonji by the Mendis, 

 has a grain, colour and softness similar to white pine, and is sold 

 locally as yellow pine. Erythrophlosum Guineense (Sassybark) yields 

 a hard timber suitable for bridge-building, as it is very durable 

 and grows to a large size, though not always with a very long bole. 

 Mountain Mahogany, a species of Lonchocarpus, has a grain similar 

 to pine, with resin-like canals in the wood. It grows to a large size, 

 with a straight bole 50 feet in length and a girth of 10 feet. Comb- 

 wood {Conapharingia pachysiphon) is a small tree, which yields a 

 yellow wood similar in texture and grain to boxwood, though a little 

 softer. Locally it is used for making native combs. There is also 

 a so-called Leopardwood, termed Koligi by the Mendis, which has 

 a curious striped grain a little reminiscent of a leopard's skin ; hence 

 the name. The local inhabitants have various chewsticks, which 

 are obtained from guttiferous trees or Vernonia species. Carapa 

 Gayensis is found and used locally both as a timber and also the seeds 

 for making an oil for the skin. In connection with all this local felling 

 it should be noticed that there is scope for sawn timber of all kinds, 

 more especially when it is taken in conjunction with the fact that 

 over 2,000,000 feet board measure of planks, etc., are imported every 

 year. A small mill placed near Bureh Town would probably be able 

 to supply all wants as far as Freetown and the immediate neighbour- 

 hood were concerned, and water power might be available from the 

 Gumah River, which flows down very rapidly to the sea. A mill, 

 on the whole, is more economical in conversion than the local sawyer, 

 as all slabs are left to rot in the forest, but these a mill would consume 

 in power-making, or they would be resawn into smaller boards or 

 shingles. At present there is no sawmill in the whole country, so 

 that there is an open field for this venture, with a forest adjacent 

 to the market and suitable conditions of labour. 



IV. Minor Forest Produce. 



No account of the Sierra Leone forest would be complete without 

 a description of the two chief vegetable products of the forest, namely 

 Palm Oil and Kernels and Gum Copal. 



Turning first of all to Gum Copal, known botanically as Copaifera 

 Salikounda, which is a true copal gum, not to be confused with the 

 gum from DanielUa Ogea and other allied species, illustrations Nos. 8 

 and 9 show this tree standing in the open, and also the shape of the 



