186 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



and all payments. The executive work outside is carried out by the 

 Forest Guards, Foresters, and Rangers, who require constant super- 

 vision. Owing to the distance, only some of them can report at 

 Forest Headquarters each month, and the rest must be seen when 

 the Forest Executive Officer makes his tour of inspection. If possible, 

 travelling should take the place of indoor work for at least ten daj^s 

 a month. 



At first sight, on examining the tropical forest, it appears like a 

 very mixed collection of different kinds of trees ; on closer inspection, 

 however, similarities and contrasts are apparent, such as Ebony, 

 Diospyros mespiliformis, with its thin, black scaly bark, and that 

 of the somewhat regularly, deeply fissured bullet-wood tree, Mimusoj'ts 

 multinervis, and its white latex, which the former does not exude. 



In walking through a forest, it is normally best to make the 

 carriers precede. Owing to their tendency to lag, and their desire 

 to sit down at inconvenient times, it is an advantage to have them 

 in front. Frequently one may have to stop and examine a flower 

 or leaf, and it only adds to the carriers' labour if the whole column 

 has to stop whilst seeds and specimens are being collected. A march 

 of about 15 miles is sufficient, and takes up the better part of the 

 day, if an examination of the forests is being made on the way. In 

 most parts villages are eight to ten miles apart, sometimes nearer ; 

 so the carriers can stop and purchase food. In the larger forests, 

 however, a distance of over 20 miles is sometimes covered without 

 sight of a house ; in that case the people of the last village are asked 

 to bring food for the carriers, and the carriers themselves are given 

 a day's food as well, which has to be cooked on reaching camp. In 

 some places the chiefs provide food (yams, etc.), which is distributed 

 to the carriers, or in some places 3d. a day per head is allowed them 

 for purchasing food. So long as the carrier gets food and his load 

 is not excessively heavy, he is quite cheerful and walks well. He will 

 pick his way in mud, over roots, and up the steepest rocks in the hill 

 forests. 



Current wages vary from 9d. to Is. a day, the head-man getting 

 from Is. to 2s. a day. Local felling-permits being issued both by 

 the District and Forest Officers to natives for felling timber for local 

 use, at District Stations a call is paid the District Officer to discuss 

 current forest questions and examine the permit books. At the same 

 time there is an opportunity of seeing what further development of 

 forest work is possible in the district. The local Forest Guards, 

 Foresters, or Forest Rangers report themselves, usually giving a very 

 good account of the local forest conditions. Since the demand for 

 local timber has been growing, a stop may have to be made to 

 supervise the marking or girdling of suitable trees for bridge-building 

 under the auspices of the Public Works Department. On a journey 



