iv NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY 



invented or borrowed names for all the littoral vegetation, 

 though their comparatively close proximity to the sea, and 

 certainly to brackish waterways, rendei's them tolerably well 

 informed on this subject. With regard, however, to the 

 numerous foreign plants that are to be found round about 

 Sekondi, they can of course do no moi'e than say that they 

 are not in their own country. 



As to the nature of the country round Sekondi, in the 

 radius of an afternoon's walk there are roughly four kinds 

 of vegetation to be met with. These are the littoral ; the 

 dense forest, now unfortunately fast disappearing ; the jungle 

 land which is cropped at intervals of a few years ; and tracts 

 of open grass land which no doubt was once fertile and 

 farmed until the invasion of the grass rendered farming it 

 unprofitable. On this grass land one meets here and there 

 clumps of trees or solitary fan-palms, just like on the open 

 country far away to the north beyond the great forest. 



The numerous foreign plants that are to be found were 

 no doubt introduced three or more centuries ago by the 

 Portuguese, who have always introduced new plants into any 

 country which they have settled. 



It is usually found that forest-dwelling tribes have a good 

 knowledge of natural history, though strange myths may 

 exist in connection with some things. Where these myths 

 occur, the reason probably for their existence is that the 

 objects themselves are somewhat rare, and not readily brought 

 into close observation even by the tribe's most experienced 

 bushman. 



The extent of a native's knowledge may seem rather one- 

 sided. For example, some Mendes seem able to name almost 

 every plant that is to be found, and they note minute 

 differences. They can do the same with crawling insects ; 

 but, when it comes to butterflies, there is no distinction, one 

 name does for all. 



Even if a Mende has not specialised in Bush-lore, every 

 adult male knows the common plants suitable for food, for 

 house-building, and for the manufacture of household utensils. 

 As to the extent of the knowledge possessed by the women, 

 however, the author has no information, though he would 

 judge that the leading women in the various so-called 

 "secret" societies are equally well infoi'iiied with the men. 



