CHAPTER VII 

 TOGO 



Introduction. 



During the latter part of 1911 I had the opportunity of visiting Togo. 

 Since August 1914 it has been in the occupation of British and French 

 troops, administered as a co-dominion. 



Forest Station work has been the main work of the Forest Depart- 

 ment since the inception, both under the District Officer and subse- 

 quently under the trained officer. There is only 1 per cent, of forests 

 in the whole country. 



Lome, the capital of Togo, formed my starting-point, and there 

 His Excellency the Governor and the Secretary of the Colony advised 

 me as to the best route and supplied me with many interesting details 

 as to the system of taxation, etc. 



Taxation. — In Lome every man above sixteen years of age has 

 the choice of paying 6s. per year or working twelve days for the 

 Government. On the coast it is found that the natives prefer to 

 pay the tax, but inland the twelve days' work is usually given. This 

 Government work consists of plantation and road making, bridge- 

 building, erecting rest-houses, and many other kinds of public work. 



The subject may be divided into three sections : 



(1) The Forests between or at the Stations. 



(2) The Forest Department Plantations. 



(3) District Plantations. 



I. The Forests between or at the Stations. 



Near Lome the ground is very sparsely covered with thorny shrubs 

 and occasional Baobabs, Adansonia digitata, but on nearing the valley 

 of the Schio the soil improves and small plantations of sugar-cane 

 appear. Though no attempt has been made here to develop this 

 industry, the natives of Tagblekovke and other places sell large 

 quantities of the cane. Oil palms are seen on both sides of the 

 line, chiefly, however, on the river banks, owing to the annual grass 

 fires. Scattered silk cotton-trees also occur along the river banks, 

 otherwise only the nonal dry-zone vegetation is found. 



The rainfall, however, is quite sufficient for the growth of a deciduous 

 forest. The remains of fringing forests on the banks of the Rivers 



