FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 337 



of all fine varnishes ; besides the ordinary copal, this 

 tree is said to afford inferior sorts, gathered from the 

 trunks or branches of young or immature productions 

 and are used to adulterate the finer samples. Accord- 

 ing to Spon's 'Encyclopaedia,' Sierra Leone copal 

 fetches from y^d. to lod. per pound on the London 

 market. The young leaves are said to be employed 

 by the Timneh and Sherbro peoples as a cure for 

 sores and ulcerations. — ' Pharmaceutical Journal,' 1856, 

 vol. xvi., p. 371 ; Spon's 'Encyclopaedia of the Indus- 

 trial Arts, Manufactures and Commercial Products,' 

 p. 1644, &c. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Mopane, or Iron- wood {Copaifera {Colophospermimi) 

 Mopane, Kirk). — A fine forest tree. According to 

 Dr. Kirk it forms in the Zambesi District large, 

 monotonous, shadeless forests ; the heart-wood is 

 dark, heavy, and very durable, but difficult to work. 

 Specimens of the wood and gum from this tree are in 

 the Kew Museum. — ' Flora of Tropical Africa,' Oliver, 

 vol. ii., p. 315, &c. 



Distribution : Lower Guinea, Mozambique Dis- 

 trict. 



Cynometra Mannii, Oliv. (?). — Tree, thirty to eighty 

 feet high. Wood close-grained and heavy. — Kew 

 Museum. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Sassy Bark of Sierra Leone, Cassa of the Ccngo, 



z 



