70 THE GOLD COAST 



are for the manufacture of soap, candles, and glycerine, 

 some qualities of palm oil being made use of in the 

 manufacture of tin plates. With improved methods the 

 supply of palm oil and kernels could be largely increased. 



Varieties of Oil Palms. In 1907 information was ob- 

 tained from the Imperial Institute that a variety of oil 

 palm was being propagated in the Kameruns the fruit 

 of which contained a thin-shelled kernel and was called 

 " Lisombe." Further investigation in the British West 

 African countries led to the discovery that a number of 

 well-marked varieties of Elceis guineensis were distin- 

 guished by the natives, and were called by distinct names. 

 Among these one possessed a thin-shelled kernel, and, 

 together with about eight others, has been under investi- 

 gation at the Imperial Institute, with the object of 

 ascertaining their respective merits. The thin-shelled 

 " Lisombe " and the " Gamopale " varieties from the 

 Kameruns have recently been tried experimentally in 

 the Gold Coast, and the advantages they possess over 

 the Other kinds have been clearly established. From the 

 descriptions given below of the more important varieties 

 found on the Gold Coast, it will be seen that particulars 

 of the comparative weight of the fruit crop and the 

 quality of the oil yielded are required to determine the 

 relative values. In addition the proportions of fruit- 

 and kernel-oil of each as well as the facilities for ex- 

 tracting the kernel must be considered. 



A reference is given below to six varieties, which have 

 been fully examined at the Imperial Institute. The native 

 names are given, and the percentages have been calculated 

 for comparison, from the more elaborate figures which 

 have been published (Bulletin Imperial Institute, vol. vii. 

 [1909], p. 366 ; cf. also vol. xi. [1913], p. 208). 



The characteristic variations of each variety are as 

 follows : 



1. " Abe-pa." Fruit large, orange-red, with or without 

 black tip, pericarp thin, nut large with thick shell. This 

 is the commonest form in the country, and is probably 

 identical with the variety found in Sierra Leone. 



2. " Abe-dam." Fruit of irregular shape, fairly large, 

 bright red, pericarp slightly thicker than the last, nut 

 large with a thick shell. This is not uncommon. 



3. " Abe-tuntum." Fruit moderately large, dark pur- 



