U FORESTHY OF WEST AFRICA. 



country, commonly known as the Dahomean sea- 

 board and territory, which has, unfortunately for the 

 trade of the Gold Coast and Lagos, been interna- 

 tionally divided up between Germans, French, and 

 Portuguese. 



The population of the Gold Coast has, as already 

 stated, never yet got beyond an estimate. Lagos was, 

 however, more favoured, for in 1881 the Census effort 

 there applied, and gave its population as 75,270, 

 inclusive of 117 whites and 68 mulattoes ; there were, 

 according to the Census, 5,592 under the heading 

 " Traders, manufacturers, mechanics, artisans," and 

 11,083 returned as farmers and agricultural labourers. 



The thatched houses in Lagos numbered then 5,961. 

 The walls of these buildings are of wattle, with or 

 without mud daubed over, and the thatch is generally 

 composed of palm leaves {Raphia vinifera ) ; in some 

 instances and places, of grass. 



The natives, outside of the professional classes, on 

 the Gold Coast, as to their employments may be 

 described as cultivators, traders, artificers, fishermen, 

 labourers, or servants. One of the many grand issues 

 of the emancipation of the unfortunate slaves in 1874 

 has been the more general spread of the farming 

 (former slave) class, and the consequently increased 

 cultivation in proportion. This may not have been 

 felt as regards cultivation of products that benefit by 

 marked increase directly the Exports, but rather in 

 cultivation for home consumption, bringing about 



