40 SIERRA LEONE 



BEESWAX. A small amount of beeswax is collected 

 in the Protectorate, and instruction has been given to the 

 natives in some localities with a view to the improvement 

 of the methods employed by them. The Government has 

 arranged for the instruction of some of the local officials 

 while on leave in England in practical bee-keeping. 



The bee found in Sierra Leone is identical with the 

 variety of Apis mellifera found throughout West Africa, 

 and is named var. Adansonii. It is rather small, but 

 produces an excellent honey, which is much appreciated. 



OIL SEEDS. A tall tree bearing a large flattened 

 legume, known to the Mendi people as " Fai," or 

 " Fawe," has been sent for examination to the Imperial 

 Institute on account of the oil contained in the seed. 

 This tree was identified as Pentacleihra macrophylla, 

 and, although common throughout the forested zone, 

 is not seen in profusion anywhere. The oil has been 

 tested, and is said to be capable of utilisation for the 

 manufacture of soap and candles, but not for alimentary 

 purposes. The difficulties in connection with the collec- 

 tion of the seed in large quantities and the extraction 

 of the kernel from the outer horny shell, hinder the 

 creation of a remunerative export trade. 



Another vegetable oil is that obtained from the fruit 

 of Pentadesma butyracea, a tree found in some parts of 

 Bullom and in the Port Lokko district. The fat extracted 

 from the ripe fruit is occasionally brought for sale to 

 Freetown, where it is known as Mandingo butter. It 

 does not occur in sufficient quantities to be commercially 

 useful, although it yields an edible oil. 



LopUra alata, which is widely distributed throughout 

 the grass country in the north, and is replaced by a 

 nearly allied species, L. procera, in the forest zone, bears 

 a seed which contains a large percentage of oil, which 

 can be used for soap manufacture. The difficulty of 

 decorticating the seeds and their preservation during 

 transport are disadvantages in the establishment of 

 an export trade. 



Analyses of the fats or oils yielded by these and other 

 West African oil seeds, and information as to their quality, 

 possible uses and value will be found in Selected Reports 

 from the Imperial Institute, Pt. V., Oil Seeds (cf. also Bull. 

 Imp. Inst., 1912, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1918). 



