82 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



made from the salt of commerce, which when it has to 

 be resorted to would render in countries in West 

 Africa the collection of rubber more difficult and more 

 expensive ; for, as I have said elsewhere, the sale of 

 salt acts as a barometer of the state of the intertribal 

 relations of the Interior : it is often used as currency, 

 or means of barter, showing its importance. With 

 petty warfare proceeding in the Interior — a normal 

 condition of things — and with roads blocked, or rather 

 trade routes obstructed, as a sequence, the trade in 

 this much-coveted article (salt) is small, as compared 

 with its disposal in peaceful times. 



Again, it is found that rubber-yielding vines have 

 to be sometimes sought beyond Governmental juris- 

 diction — due to reckless deforestation in part of our 

 Colonies — where the industry has at times to be 

 pursued under great difficulties, represented by 

 jealousy entertained by owners of soil and forests 

 against intruding and sometimes inconsiderate col- 

 lectors or hunters, usually experienced and alien 

 hands, who indeed run great personal dangers as- 

 sociated with loss of collection, the distinction be- 

 tween " meum " and " tuum " having been temporarily 

 overlooked : indeed such collectors have not always 

 right on their side, for they as often as not trespass 

 without leave or license from owners of soil. 



In their own interests the collectors should be 

 careful, and make it a golden rule to respect the 

 legitimate rights of others, to put on the market as 



