72 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



for a few days in large pits of water, and when the 

 oil collects on the surface it is skimmed off. It is 

 usually of a reddish colour, very pure and clear, with 

 an agreeable smell. Under the bark are great masses 

 of scented gum, used by the natives in fumigating 

 themselves." 



This tree, or something closely allied to it, is, ac- 

 cording to Dr. Welwitsch, to be found in West Africa. 



The tiger nut, the tuber of the Cypertis esculentus, is 

 well known in West Africa, and might be grown tO' 

 any required extent. It is called by the French 

 sottchet comestible or Amande de terre, and is used 

 as food in the south of Europe. It is used in West 

 Africa symbolically as love messages, &c. On the 

 Gold Coast it is eaten raw by the natives : it is also 

 cooked (boiled down), with a result something like 

 to custard flavoured with chocolate. 



According to Dr. Royle, these tubers when roasted 

 have been proposed as a substitute for coffee and 

 cocoa. Indeed the idea has also occurred to myself, 

 both as regards the tiger and ground {arachis) nuts. 



The adulteration of produce, especially palm oil 

 and palm kernels, has for some time and does form a 

 peg on which the members of the mercantile world in 

 those parts hang their hat of discontent — and natu- 

 rally, so long as they act as they are accustomed to do. 



Representations have been repeatedly made in the 

 Gold Coast and Lagos Colonies on the adulteration 

 of palm oil by the addition of water and agidi (ground 



