AFRICA. 671 



CATTLE IN SIERRA LEONE. 



In reply to the circular just received from tlie Department of State 

 (July 18) regarding breeding cattle, I beg to submit the following : 



SIERRA LEONE CATTLE. 



The cattle found in this country are not raised with any care what- 

 ever, and no attention is given to improving the stock. They are all 

 of the common or scrub kind, of small stature, about the size of an ordi- 

 nary two-year-old, and the cows are seldom or never kept for milk. 

 Cow's milk is an almost unheard-of thing here ; the only fresh milk, 

 which perhaps is about 1 per cent, of the total used, is from the goat. 

 Condensed milk in tins is the kind in general use, and to make any 

 butter or cheese is never thought of. 



HOUSING AND FEEDING-. 



There is no housing or artificial feeding of cattle in Sierra Leone ; the 

 climate being warm the year round they pick up their living wherever 

 they can, and there is no pains whatever taken in breeding. 



There are no cultivated -grasses. Cattle are brought to town in canoes 

 by the natives and sold to butchers and dealers and killed for the beef 

 and hides. 



PRICES OF BEEF AND CATTLE. 



The beef is very tasteless and dry and is sold daily in the market at 

 about 5 pence per pound. 



The price of a live bullock is from 2 to 5, according to size. They 

 weigh alive (I should judge) from 250 to 500 pounds. Color, mostly 

 red or cream-yellow. Small horns. 



EXPORT OF HIDES TO THE UNITED STATES. 



There have been shipped from this port to the United States during 

 the year 1883 to the present time (October 27), 66,938 dry hides ; it is 

 probable that 15,000 more will be shipped ere the close of the year, 

 making a total of 81,938. This, no doubt, includes very nearly all the 

 cattle killed in all this surrounding country which has any trade with 

 this port. 



The average weight of what are classed as good hides is 10 pounds 

 each when dry, and they are bought by the merchants, who ship them 

 to the United States at 6J pence per pound for good hides, half price 

 for culls." 



The mean temperature of this country is about 80 throughout the 

 year. 



The soil is loam and sand, with, in many places, a substratum of 

 granite. 



The surface stone is largely iron-stone, and is used extensively in 

 building. 



JUDSON A. LEWIS, 



Consul. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Sierra Leone, October 27, 1883. 



