LIBERIA 69 



monly found ; also the Tallow Tree (Pentadesma butyracea), which 

 bears a large number of oil-bearing nuts in its large fruit ; the Dita 

 {Detarium Senegalensis), which yields a mango-like fruit, eaten locally. 

 Bitter Kola {Garcinia kola) is found, but not often sold in the local 

 market. The rough -skinned Parinarium excelsum yields a fruit 

 which is eaten locally ; the African Star-apple [Chrysophyllum Afri- 

 canum) is found in the forest, and also planted. In other villages the 

 Akee, being obtained from Blighia sapida, is quite common in the 

 forest, though the edible fruit is not used. The Mackay or Sea Bean 

 {Entada scandens) is a huge creeper which grows to 350 feet in length 

 and 3 feet in girth. Near Dambarra, from a stout specimen hung 

 a complete pod containing fourteen beans. 



III. Conditions of Working Timber. 



The Mano or Bewa River forms the natural outlet for the extrac- 

 tion of timber, as the Morro River forms one boundary of the Gola 

 Forest, and this river joins the former rather more than half-way 

 through the forest. The Mano River reaches the sea about 80 miles 

 from the end of the forest ; thus logs of timber could be brought down 

 the Mano straight into the sea. 



Very good timber of various kinds of mahogany has been shipped 

 from several ports, such as Sassandra and Grand Bassam on the 

 Ivory Coast. Good prices, such as Is. to 2s. 3d. per superficial foot, 

 have usually been paid for this timber. There is therefore no reason 

 why similar timber from Liberia should not fetch equally good rates, 

 when properly cut, squared, and sold under similar conditions. 



Conditions of working are very similar on the West Coast of Africa, 

 but may vary somewhat in detail from place to place. However, 

 if at the outset natives accustomed to working timber in Nigeria or 

 the Ivory Coast were employed, good results would be obtained. 

 Gradually a local native staff would be built up, so that the services 

 of those from another part of the coast could be dispensed with 

 and cheaper working thus assured ; because imported labour, whether 

 skilled or otherwise, is usually more expensive than that of the 

 locality. Lower shipping rates should be paid from Liberia than 

 from the Ivory Coast or Gold Coast, owing to the distance being less 

 to the European markets where the timber is sold. 



The other forests of Liberia should be thoroughly examined to 

 see what amount of timber is there. It is usual to work several areas 

 in conjunction, as the cost of management per unit of output (the 

 log) is thus reduced. 



