FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 155 



are desired, such patterns are secured by hemming 

 up portions on which it is wished that the colour 

 will have less effect : the dye colour is thereby on 

 those parts less deep, and the pattern aimed at 

 secured. 



These industries, conducted almost entirely by 

 women, are what they have been for centuries, and 

 have remained, as others, undeveloped by contact with 

 civilizing influences : in fact colonization, civilization, 

 europeanization, or whatever name we may apply to 

 the situation, has resulted in contracting the industrial 

 area of this as of other purely native industries, and 

 consequently has done in this direction also more 

 harm than good. 



We have not allowed ourselves to descend to the 

 situations as we found them, nor endeavoured to 

 make the best of them, nor with all honesty turned 

 to their improvement on lines consistent with the 

 conditions and requirements of the People. 



Why has foreign competition been such a success- 

 ful rival generally in our own Colonies ? 



In indigo-yielding plants our knowledge is indeed 

 very contracted, yet a reference to the list appended 

 of economic plants of West Africa will result in an 

 encouraging show of known specimens in the direc- 

 tion of the commercial development of this important 

 industry. 



In imports from our West African Possessions into 

 the United Kingdom, dye-stuffs are included, but 



