8o FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



names of the trees from which Gambia rubbers are 

 obtained. It will be however something to record 

 the names by which they are known in the country, 

 for such information will give a clue for following up 

 the matter, and for securing specimens of leaf, flower, 

 and fruit of each tree, to admit of its classification 

 scientifically. 



There seems to be in the vicinity of the Gambia, so 

 far known, two kinds of rubber — the one white elastic, 

 and very like in substance, as also in bark wood 

 and in fruit (according to description), to the rubber 

 obtained from the Landolphia owariensis of the Gold 

 Coast, called in Yoruba " ibo." 



The tree producing this is called in Volof " tawl," 

 and in Mandingo " pholey." 



The second kind of rubber is obtained from a tree 

 called in Volof " maddah," and in Mandingo " cab- 

 bah " : is much inferior in quality. 



It is generally considered locally that the first 

 comparatively high price per pound, viz. 2s., paid at 

 the Gambia caused such a run to be made for its 

 collection, that quantity not quality seemed to have 

 been, and seems to be, the order of the day. 



The result has been that the quality so deteri- 

 orated that the price considerably fell, and the natives 

 who collected rubber were disappointed — a sad issue, 

 and one that should be avoided in the development 

 of fresh industries in West Africa — the sequence of 

 the, however praiseworthy as a stimulant, yet short- 



