MAHOGANY PRODUCTS OF WEST AFRICA 67 
wood is good and the texture satisfactory, but it is 
not generally in favour otherwise than for the fine 
figured wood, which, more than in any other variety, is 
found in this timber. 
Most of the African mahogany, it may be mentioned, 
is liable to be affected by what are known as thunder 
shakes or wind brakes, a cross-fracture of the timber 
which it is often difficult, and at times impossible, to 
detect from the exterior of the log. The Assinee logs 
are peculiarly liable to this fatal fault, a defect that 
renders a log practically worthless when opened. 
Grand Bassam.—This variety, also from the same 
coast, not only has of late years been the most abundant, 
but has occupied a leading position in the estimation 
of buyers. Generally shipped in well-made logs of 
good dimensions—many being over 48 in. in diameter— 
the wood is of firm texture, good, bright colour, and has 
excellent working qualities which are appreciated 
when the material is used for good-class joinery work. 
Sassandra.—A limited amount of the wood from 
this district, also in the French Colony, is shipped from 
the port of the same name. Notwithstanding the 
comparative nearness of this district to the area in 
which Grand Bassam and other varieties are obtained, 
the wood of this Sassandra variety is totally dissimilar, 
being fairly hard in texture and of brownish-red colour. 
The logs sent have been generally of good dimensions 
and the wood has been received with favour. 
From Grand Lahou, shipments of wood of somewhat 
similar description to that of Assinee are made in fairly 
large quantities, and further supplies are also forth- 
coming from Half Assinee, Pontadoon, and other places 
in the same Colony. 
Axim.—From this port on the Gold Coast large 
supplies of mahogany are exported, perhaps equal in 
