72 THE GOLD COAST 



would not be suitable for lubricating or for edible purposes. 

 The nut does not occur in such profusion as to warrant 

 profitable exportation from localities where the oil palm 

 is found. 



TIMBER. Mahogany. The most valuable and commonly 

 exported timber is that known in the European and 

 American markets as " African Mahogany." The value 

 of that shipped from the Gold Coast in 1913 was estimated 

 at 366,000. 



Several red woods are included under the name of 

 Mahogany, but the best quality is said to be obtained 

 from Khaya senegalensis, a large tree of the Natural 

 Order MELIACE^. This tree is known by the native 

 (Fanti) name of " Dubini." In the same language the 

 names " Okumankra " and " Akwabohori " are applied 

 to two trees which are said to be exported as Mahogany, 

 but of these the identity has not yet been determined. 



Other Timber-trees. The " Odum " tree (Chlorophora 

 excelsa) produces a hard and useful wood, which is much 

 used in the forest region, but is not often shipped (Fig. 1 9). 

 In the dry country of the Northern Territories Pseudo- 

 cedrela Kotschyi may be found of value as a red wood for 

 decorative purposes. 



Among the other trees which show evidence of yielding 

 hard and useful woods are " Ahedua " (Cyanothyrsus sp.), 

 " Opapeh " (Afzelia africana), and " Bako " (Mimusops 

 sp.). Information about the working-quality and suit- 

 ability for export of these and other Gold Coast timbers 

 is given in the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, vol. viii., 

 1910, p. 232. 



The largest, and consequently the most valuable, trees 

 belonging to the different species mentioned, are found 

 in the western part of the Gold Coast and Ashanti, and 

 most of the mahogany logs are shipped from Sekondi, 

 Axim, and other places farther to the westward. The 

 Pra and Ankobra rivers are utilised to float down the 

 squared logs, which are then moored at the river mouths, 

 to await shipment. The export of logs is only limited 

 by the facilities with which they can be brought to a 

 river or the railway, and large, valuable trees are plentiful 

 in many of the forests, although they would be unprofit- 

 able to fell and trim in some cases, owing to their remote 

 situations and the difficulties connected with conveyance. 



