PREFACE V 



Of course lapses of memory occur, chiefly in connection 

 with the florii, and this is not surprising considering^ the 

 hundreds of plants that go to make up the forest. These 

 lapses, as well as dialectic differences, frequently lead to 

 quite heated arguments as to the correct name for some- 

 thing ; and the various parties seem usually to fail to convince 

 each other 



As to tlie identiiicatiou of plant life, it is always l)y the 

 leaf, if a blende is shown a flower and is asked the name 

 of the plant, he will invariably demand the leaf before he 

 will name it. This is not unreasonable when it is recalled 

 that the leaf is with them all the year round, for very few 

 trees are deciduous, while the flower is only with them for 

 a biief period, and the fruit for scai-cely longer. 



Notes have been added to the descriptions, giving any 

 uses or myths that have come to the author's notice, but he 

 must state that he has not invariabl}' tested their accuracy 

 by practical demonstration. 



F. W. H. MIGEOD, 

 Traniiport Ojficer, 



Gold Coast Colony. 



September 11)12. 



