BRITISH SPHERE OF THE CAMEROONS 419 



similar to those found in other parts. On the whole, Red Ironwood 

 {Lophira procera) is most prevalent in Ogu and Mbu, as also both 

 Mahoganies, Camwood {Pterocarpus sp.), African Greenheart (P^2>- 

 tadenia Africana), Corkwood {Musanga Smithii), False Iroko {CJiloro- 

 pJiora excelsa), Hog Plum {Spondias lutea), Wild Mango {Irvingia 

 Gabonensis), Hard Mahogany {Detarium Guineense). Numerous small 

 Oil Palms occur in places. On the banks of the Fi, Cedar (Carapa 

 procera), Hard Mahogany, Trichilia, an anacardiaceous tree ; the 

 hard whitewood Akboro (Benin), the brown hardwood, Microdesmis, 

 African Greenheart {Piptadenia Africana), Heritiera sp., Scented 

 Mahogany, Guarea Thompsonii, Chrysophyllum Africanum, and a very 

 hard wood known as Alikongeba by the Yorubas are found. Near the 

 Rumpi Mountains the following are more prevalent ; the Sarcocej)lialus 

 sp., Berlinia, Piptadenia Africana, Cylicodiscus Gabonensis, Oroko, 

 Lophira procera, Satinwood, Zanthoxylum macrophyllum, Pattern- 

 wood, Alstonia Congensis, Shingle-wood, Terminalia scutifera. Pear- 

 wood, Mimusops Djave, Corkwood, Musanga Smithii, Scented 

 Mahogany, Guarea sp., White Cedar, Pycnanthus Kombo, Camwood, 

 Pterocarpus sp., brown hardwood, Microdesmis, Wild Mango 

 (Irvingia Gabunensis), Gaboon Mahogany, Canarium Schiveinfurthii, 

 Bilinga [Afzelia pachyloba), and Walnut. 



Out of the total of 14,000 square miles of forest, 6,000 must be 

 deducted as being inaccessible for many years to come. Again, out 

 of this 8,000 square miles, 4,500 square miles will be made accessible 

 as soon as those areas lying nearest the rivers have been opened up 

 for timber extraction. Therefore only these last areas will be taken 

 into consideration at the present time. 



The chief timber forests comprised in this area are those situated 

 between the Mfu and Fi, the Fi and Mbu, and the Manja and Mak 

 Rivers. 



On the whole, in the Cross River basin there is an area of fully 

 2,000 square miles of exploitable forests, within reach of streams or 

 rivers deep enough to float logs in the rainy season. In the Akwayefe, 

 Ndian, Moko, and Meme River valleys there is another 700 square 

 miles. Again, on the banks of the Mungo and its tributaries there 

 is an area of about 800 square miles suitable for the extraction of 

 timber. In all, then, there is an area of 3,500 square miles of forest 

 which could be utilized at the present time. Assuming that only one 

 tree on every four acres is of value for export, and that each tree is 

 worth a nominal amount of £1, therefore the whole forest is worth 

 £575,000. In addition to these there are many other trees which 

 would become valuable either for export or for local use as soon as 

 the forests were opened up and utilized, and this would at least double 

 the value of the forest. This, also, is one of the last remaining large 

 tracts of forest where the population is smaller and the requirements 



