THE OIL PALM. 525 



profitable trade in the exportation of the vegetable products of 

 their native soil. 



Palm oil is produced by the nut of the tree, which grows in the 

 greatest abundance throughout Western Africa. The demand 

 for it, both in Europe and America, is daily increasing, and there 

 is no doubt it will, ere long, become the most important article of 

 African trade. 



IMPORTS INTO LIVERPOOL. 



casks. tons. 



1835 28,500 9,500 



1836 33,500 11,000 



1837 26,000 9,900 



1838 27,520 10,320 



1839 36,500 14,300 



1852 about 23,500 



IB. the colony of Liberia, I notice the manufacture of a new 

 article of African production, which is called "Herring's Palm 

 Kernel Oil or African Lard." It is thus spoken of in the news- 

 papers of that .Republic : 



"We had been for a long time impressed with an idea that the oil contained 

 in the kernel of the palm nut, was superior both in quality and appearance to 

 that of palm oil, which is obtained from the exterior part. 



On making an effort to extract the oil from the kernel (which was by means 

 of a little machine, of our own invention and contrivance), \ve found that our 

 thoughts upon the matter were correct, that the oil possessed admirable beauty 

 in its appearance, with a taste, when used for cooking purposes, unexcelled by 

 that of the best lard. 



After being made and set by, it assumes a consistence like that of hard butter, 

 and has to be cut out with a knife or spoon ; its appearance in this state is very 

 beautiful, presenting such richness, clearness, and adaptedness to table purposes, 

 that one would not suppose that this oil is obtained from the same tree from 

 which palm oil is, for there is as much disparity both in their appearance and 

 taste as there is between lard and butter. 



The exquisite transparency which the kernel oil bears in a liquid state, 

 especially when undergoing the purifying pro ^ess, is a cause of admiration. 

 On showing some of it to several foreigners, I was asked in two instances which 

 was the oil and which the water, or whether it was oil or water ; thus you may 

 have an idea of its clearness. We mak^ two qualities of this oil, differing 

 however in taste only, the one being for table uses and the other for exportation 

 and for whatever use they may choose to put it to abroad. 



There have been many conjectures in respect to the uses to which this oil 

 might be put in foreign countries ; but that it will be a useful article, and 

 especially in our trade, when made more extensively, there can be no doubt, 

 for the quantity in which it might be had would undoubtedly introduce it to a 

 respectable rank among the other commodities of our productive country so 

 eagerly sought after. 



There is nothing, to my knowledge, that can be turned to as good account 

 and at the same time so abundant and easily obtained, as the palm kernel, for 

 they are as common as the pebbles of stony land, especially in this section of the 

 country, where we have palm orchards of spontaneous growth for miles to- 

 gether, and interspersing the surrounding country in almost innumerable 

 numbers. 



According to statistical ascertainment, there is on an average exported from 

 this port, thirty thousand gallons of palm oil annually, from which fact we 

 ascertain demonstratively that the palm kernels which are thrown away here 

 (leaving out^the whole leeward coast of our possessions) are sufficient to make 

 thirty thousand gallons of oil, more or less. This is not at all a problematical 



