FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 199 



Now, on the subject of West Africa timber Export 

 trade, I have made many enquiries, but learn that 

 so far as the United Kingdom is concerned, although 

 considerable business wa^ done some thirty or forty 

 years ago from the Gambia and Sierra Leone, it may 

 be said to have altogether ceased, or to have sunk 

 into the export done in dye-woods and ebony, most 

 of which has been carried to Liverpool by the lines 

 of steamers known as the " British and African " and 

 "African Steamship" Companies, by the Imperial 

 German Mail Steamer line, started in 1882 ; and by 

 French, Belgian and Dutch steamers that ply now as 

 rivals in that trade, also with certain success. 



This allusion to the past will be found supported 

 by a reference to a useful publication . in 1852 of a 

 descriptive catalogue of the woods then commonly 

 employed in the United Kingdom for mechanical 

 and ornamental purposes, entitled 'Turning and 

 Mechanical Manipulation, etc.,' by Mr. Charles 

 Holtzapffel. 



The same field of vast extent that was found to 

 offer material, for a profitable export trade in years 

 past still exists, but conditions of demand and supply 

 have altered,' which, with the high West African 

 freight tariff, and a comparative absence (at least in 

 past years) of sea transport competition, have mili- 

 tated so far against its revival. 



Of the French Possessions of Senegambia, Gaboon, 

 etc., useful particulars of the specimens of woods 



