FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



markets of Senegal (exclusive of Portendic trade ?) 

 was about 30,000 quintals (cwts,): in 1827 the quantity 

 similarly exported from Senegal to France increased 

 to 613,504 kilogrammes : the annual export has now 

 reached some 3,000,000 kilogrammes. The commerce 

 in this article varies with the conditions of the atmo- 

 sphere, and has been affected from time to time by the 

 partial destruction by fire of the forests of gum-trees 

 accidentally caused by the Moors in their efforts to 

 burn the dry scrub in the neighbourhood of such 

 forests. The gum Verek is identical with the true 

 gum arable of Arabia; its gathering is effected in the 

 month of December, viz. two months after the ces- 

 sation of the " Rains," which fall from July to October. 

 The Moors employ in its collection their unfortunate 

 captives of war, whom they make slaves. 



For any more detailed particulars that may be 

 required concerning the gums exported from the 

 French Possession, Senegambia, I would request that 

 reference be made to ' Flore de Senegambie,' by 

 Messrs Guillemin, Perrottet & Richard, and to the 

 appended list of economic plants, p. 269. 



From the Gold Coast the export of gum (fossilized 

 resin) to the United Kingdom — indeed, to the 

 European market — is trifling compared with what it 

 should be. The United States attract the bulk of the 

 trade, which in this article also seems in that direction 

 to be increasing, as will be observed from the follow- 

 ing return, pp. 124-5. 



