FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



second Eastern districts ; and as a large number of the 

 remainder are market women, who do little else than 

 purchase vegetables in the districts and bring them to 

 the town to sell, it reduces the class of people who are 

 most needed, namely, the agriculturists, considerably 

 below the minimum of the number required. 



" Of mechanics, butchers, bakers, &c., the numbers, 

 2,6ii, maybe considered proportionate to the popula- 

 tion ; but it must not be supposed that the 2,293 who 

 are pleased to return themselves as mechanics in any 

 way represent the real numbers who are authorized 

 by experience or capability to claim such a title. 

 The real number of artizans or mechanics who have 

 any right to the term in the true meaning of the word 

 is very limited, and it is to be regretted that in Sierra 

 Leone, where the people are apt to learn and tolerably 

 quick to apply when they give care and attention, 

 there is not a greater number of thorough workmen 

 to teach their handicraft, and become examples to the 

 rising generation. A youth who has been two years 

 with a carpenter, boat-builder, blacksniith, or mason, 

 arrogates the title to himself without any compunc- 

 tion, and frequently, whilst he is learning from an 

 indifferent teacher the rudiments of his trade, he sets 

 himself up as a master of his profession." 



"There is hardly a single trade that can turn out 

 half-a-dozen men who would be certificated by any 

 European firm for possessing a thorough knowledge 

 of it." 



