134 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



natives to sell it by measure, the measures being little 

 ' quindas' or open baskets. The natives of the country, 

 where it is obtained not only bring it to the Coast for 

 barter, but also sell it to the Coast natives, who go with 

 goods to purchase it from them. 



" The blacks of the gum country are so indolent 

 that they will only dig for the gum during and after 

 the last and heaviest rains, about March, April, and 

 May — and these and June and July are the months 

 when it almosts all makes its appearance ; and they 

 will only allow a certain quantity to leave the country, 

 for fear that its price on the Coast may fall ; hence 

 only a few tons of this beautiful gum are now obtained, 

 where some years ago hundreds were bought. 



" It is said by the natives that no trees grow on or 

 near the places where the gum copal is found, and 

 that even grass grows very sparingly. The very small 

 quantities of red earth and sand sometimes attached 

 to the gum shew it to be so highly ferruginous, that 

 I should imagine such was really the case. 



" The white Angola gum is said to be the product 

 of a tree growing near rivers and water, a little to the 

 interior of the Coast. I have never had an opportunity 

 of seeing the tree myself. However, a grand field 

 along this Coast and inland exists for the development 

 on a much larger scale of this important and valuable 

 article of commerce." 



On the Angola and Benguela gums Mr. Ingham 

 Clark has remarked as follows : — 



