296 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



The fruit is said to be eaten by the natives. — ' Flora of 

 Tropical Africa/ D. Oliver, vol. i., p. 328. 

 Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Meliace^. 



Persian Lilac, Bastard Cedar or Bead Tree {Melia 

 Azedarach, L.). — The wood of this tree is handsomely 

 marked and takes a good polish ; it is used in India 

 for furniture. The bark is extremely bitter, and 

 employed as an anthelmintic. Leaves and pulp of 

 the fruit used in native medicine, and from the fruit an 

 oil is obtained ; the nuts are frequently strung as beads. 

 — 'Manual of Indian Timbers,' J. S. Gamble, p. 70. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea, Cape de Verd Islands. 



" Motsakiri " {Trichilia emetica, Vahl). — Tree. The 

 wood is used in South Tropical Africa for small canoes, 

 &c.; and on the Shire a large quantity of valuable oil 

 and tallow is expressed from the seeds. The oil is 

 used in cookery. (Kew Museum.) 



Distribution : Upper Guinea, Nile Land, South 

 Central, Mozambique District. 



Crab Tree (Carapa giiyanensis, Aubl.). — The wood 

 of this tree is used in Demerara for furniture, shingles, 

 masts and spars of vessels ; it takes a good polish. 

 The bark is bitter and employed as a tonic. By 

 pressure the seeds yield an oil, known under the 

 various names of " Crab," " Carap," " Andiroba," 



