68 TIMBER 
amount to the exports from Grand Bassam. The 
chief proportion is directed to Liverpool and London, 
smaller quantities to the Continent and to the United 
States. The wood is of good colour and, generally, of 
a mild and straight-grained texture. Upon the whole, 
the make of the logs is not so good as is that of other 
varieties, and a large proportion of defective logs 
have been shipped of late years that has not added 
to the reputation of the wood. This, however, is 
probably a temporary fault, incidental to bad floating 
seasons. 
Sekondi.—A neighbouring port to the last men- 
tioned. Large supplies are shipped from this centre, 
the wood being somewhat similar but rather softer 
than the Axim wood, and perhaps more porous. It 
is, however, better manufactured, is shipped in logs 
of large dimensions, and has a good sale. 
Lagos. —Shipped from Southern Nigeria, this 
mahogany, as formerly exported, was held in general 
estimation as the finest in all-round qualities of any of 
the West Coast varieties. In the plentiful shipments 
that arrived some years ago the logs were very unevenly 
and badly squared, but the wood was of excellent 
description and compared somewhat favourably with 
several central American varieties. During the last 
ten years or so shipments have fallen away and the logs, 
although rather better in manufacture than formerly, 
have not been equal in quality to those first exported. 
It is a distinctly favourite variety among consumers 
in Great Britain and also in America. 
Benin.—From the same Nigerian Coast this wood is 
exported, the variety being perhaps in as great favour 
with consumers as the foregoing. It is exported in 
exceedingly well-squared logs, principally of large 
dimensions, and the wood is of straight, firm texture 
