2o8 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



rise to, and to do justice to local talent, I would 

 mention that although West Africa has ceased — let 

 us hope only temporarily — to form one of the timber 

 Centres as regards export trade in this commodity, a 

 quiet, unnoticed and unpretentious but extensive and 

 important local timber industry proceeds in many 

 directions. I will specially give two. First, let us 

 ask ourselves — or, rather, let commercial agents and 

 merchants in West Africa ask themselves — how 

 produce is brought to them, or how they can send 

 for it, and how their goods get to the native markets. 

 Is and has not the transport been effected by means 

 of the canoes and cutters that have been built and 

 floated by the Negro mechanics, and that are and 

 have been manned by native paddles and sailors ? The 

 tonnage of the Gambia carrying power, represented by 

 the local cutter industry alone, is returned at 2,500. 



Next, look at the general and extensive improve- 

 ment in the style of house along the Coast — the 

 marked and growing substitution — whether for comfort 

 and coolness is another question — of frame for mud 

 and wattle houses. 



Such a provision (as transport) so essential, and 

 improvements so marked, offer, I contend, results on 

 which the country is to be congratulated. 



It has been conveyed to me by Mr. G. S. Saunders 

 that in the absence of any regularly organized system 

 of timber supply such as exists in the teak, mahogany, 

 and South America cedar districts, it would be 



