FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



remarks that, owing to the destruction of trees by the 

 reckless manner in which they were incised for the 

 collection of juice in some districts, the supply has 

 altogether ceased. 



" Consul Smith, of Carthagena, also calls attention 

 to the wasteful custom in Columbia, United States of 

 America, rubber-hunters have of cutting down, in- 

 stead of tapping, every tree from which they extract 

 the rubber ; the consequence being that all the trees 

 near some river to which he alludes have been long 

 since destroyed, and the hunters have now to go 

 several days' journey before they can find the rubber. 

 This issue should be impressed on the mind of 

 collectors on the West Coast. 



"The exports in this article from the district 

 Mungao and Kilka in 1880 exceeded 1,000 tons, 

 where since the last season the price has risen from 

 ;^I40 to ;£'25o per ton. 



" Consul O'Neill, in his Report for 1 880 on the Trade 

 of Mozambique, states : ' It is curious to note the 

 marvellously rapid development of the india-rubber 

 industry. In 1873 only £44^ worth passed through 

 the Customs House at Mozambique. In 1876 it 

 reached the value of ;£'22,i98, and in 1879 it exceeded 

 ■^^50,000. It would seem now to have reached its 

 climax, whilst the present method of collecting this 

 produce prevails, and until communications with the 

 Interior are properly opened up ; for the careless 

 cutting of trees by the untaught hands of the Natives 



