GOLD COAST REPORT ON FORESTS. 91 



(d) Carapa guianensis. The Osuabise of the Akwapiuis. This 

 is another species with large seeds that contain a high percentage 

 of vegetable fats. In the dry country it is confined to the banks 

 of the streams, but is universally distributed over the heavy 

 forest belt. The seeds if required could be procured in fairly 

 large quantities. 



Amongst other useful trees we have : 



(e) Acacia Catechu. The species from which the Catcc/m 

 exported from Burma is procured. It is common in the open 

 grass country, and in places is so gregarious as to form almost 

 pure thickets. The heart- wood from which the Catechu is 

 extracted in Burma is, however, poorly developed in the West 

 African plant. 



The fibre yielding plants, not including the various species of 

 Urena, Triumfetta, Hibiscus, and a small Sansevieria which are 

 almost universally distributed, are represented by 



(/) Sterculia Barter i. A tree that is confined to the evergreen 

 belts of vegetation in the open country and is most plentiful in 

 the intermediate zone. The bast fibres of this species are used 

 by the natives for making ropes, which are strong and durable. 



(g) Bauhinia reticulata, the bast fibres of which are put to the 

 same use. It is universally distributed over the dry zone and 

 is frequently the only plant available in such localities from 

 which really long and strong fibres can be procured. 



(h) The Baobabs, Adansonia digitata and another species. 

 These gouty-looking trees are found here and there in the open 

 country, more especially near villages and on rocky soils. I 

 very much doubt whether they are truly indigenous on the Gold 

 Coast and in Southern Nigeria. 



The wood fibres of these trees are collected in Senegal and 

 exported to Europe where they realize from 9 to 10 per ton. 

 I should fancy that in favourable localities the growth of these 

 plants is fairly rapid and that with planting a large supply of 

 fibre could be obtained and collected at no great cost. It would, 

 of course, only pay to grow it as a forest crop. 



The roots of (i) Anogeissus leiocarpus, a tree that is extremely 

 common in the dry zone, are rich in tannin and the wood ashes 

 are used by the Yorubas as a mordant for fixing dyes. 



Infusions of the bark of (j) Bridelia micrantha or a closely 

 allied species are used by the native hunters to dye their cloths 

 a rich reddish-brown colour; the dye is said to be a fast one, and 

 the admixture of scraps of old iron (such as kerosene tins, &c.), 

 with the infusion of the bark appears to be an important part of 

 the process in fixing the dye. 



The following species of plants from the open country possess 

 edible fruit : 



(a) Parinarium curatellce/olium. Locally common. 



(1>) Parkia filicoidca. Common. 



(c) The shea butter tree. Common, the pericarp is edible. It 

 has an agreeable sweetish taste. The " butter ' is, of course, 

 used for culinary purposes. 



