FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



am induced to here make a brief allusion to them. 

 As to their Flora, I must refer my readers to the 

 work on the Botany of the Islands, by P. Barker 

 Webb, under the title ' Spicelegia Gorgonea.' 



Until 1879, these islands, with the other Portuguese 

 Possessions on the coast of Guinea, formed one Pro- 

 vince : the islands by themselves now forni a Portuguese 

 Province. They are of volcanic nature, of high eleva- 

 tion, and in the valleys fertile. 



The uncertainty of water supply and frequent 

 droughts paralyse trade and destroy the crops there, 

 and in consequence the islands should offer a 

 market for certain West African products, especially 

 corn {Zea Mays), which can be grown cheap and good, 

 and of two crops annually. I may add that these 

 islands are somewhat supplied with this corn from 

 the Portuguese Possessions lying south and adjacent 

 to the Gambia. Indeed from the Gambia itself corn 

 has found its way to them, spasmodically as are efforts 

 sustained generally in West Africa. 



Even from Lagos, so much further south and east, 

 it has been proved that corn can be shipped to 

 England with profitable results. It can be grown 

 extensively and procured — taken in quantity — at the 

 former place, in fact in most places on the Gold Coast, 

 at 9^. per bushel. 



Here, as elsewhere along this coast, American 

 trade insinuates itself and progresses, whether in 

 wooden gimcracks, furniture, rum, or tobacco. 



