67 



indentations, and even these choked by sandy bars render them 

 unsafe for vessels even of small draught. 



The prevailing winds, "VYhich sweep the coast, incline to au 

 uniform angle all the trees, noticeable particularly in the tall 

 palms ; while the periodical blowing of the Harmattan wind, 

 coming from the Great Desert, dried up every thing, and 

 surcharged with sandy particles of microscopical fineness 

 produce very disagreeable sensations and even severe disease. 



It is here, as in all tropical Africa, that the palm tribe 

 luxuriates. Of this the most important was the oil palm. 

 growing 40 to 50 feet high, and producing large bunches of 

 fruit, like miniature cocoa nuts. They furnish the palm oil 

 of commerce, and when prepared by a different process they 

 furnish also a delicious dish for the table knoAvn under the 

 name oi lialm butter. 



It is here too that vegetation is seen in luxuriant proportions ; 

 trees of gigantic size festooned with vines of enormous length 

 and of great girth— roots of species of other trees pendant in 

 the air, or supporting the trunks like giant buttresses — and, 

 even kinds of ferns growing several feet high. 



The cultivated lands produce rice abundantly — also, cassava, 

 sweet potatoes, yams, maize, melons, arrowroot, ginger, pea- 

 nuts, indigo — and in fact all those garden vegetables found in 

 tropical regions. 



The Greboes inhabit Cape Palmas, occupying a small terri- 

 tory about 400 square miles in extent, and number about 

 20,000 souls, living in towns of about 2,500 each. Dr. P. ex- 

 hibited a sketch of the houses they erect, conical in form, and 

 not unlike haystacks ; in the middle of the floor of which the 

 fire is kindled, while the smoke, escaping at a hole in the apex 

 of the house, affords a secure place for storing their rice, which 

 otherwise would be liable to destruction from the weevil. 



These people believe in charms or greegrees ; — which may 

 be a palm branch fixed over the door, or a pot sunk in the 

 ground, in which are deposited articles of potency against all 

 evil designs of witches, &c. Contributions are also made to 



