FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 379 



Shea, Galam or Bambouk Butter {Butyrospennnm 

 Parkii, Kotschy). — Tree reaching a height of thirty to 

 forty feet, with a trunk five to six feet in diameter. 

 The wood is red Hke cedar, very hard and close- 

 grained. Shea butter is a solid fat obtained from the 

 kernels, which are first dried in the sun, then bruised, 

 and finally boiled, when the fat floats on the surface 

 and is skimmed off for use; it constitutes a main 

 article of inland commerce, and is employed by the 

 natives for anointing their bodies, for lighting, and for 

 food. This fat is imported from Sierra Leone to the 

 extent of from 300 to 500 tons annually for use in 

 the manufacture of hard soaps, chiefly in combination 

 with other oils. A substance somewhat resembling 

 gutta-percha is found in Shea Butter, and is called 

 Gutta-Shea ; no application, however, has been found 

 for it. The fleshy portion of the fruit is very sweet, 

 and is eaten by the natives. — ' Spon's Encyclopaedia 

 of the Industrial Arts, Manufactures and Commercial 

 Products,' pp. 1410 and 1654; 'Pharmaceutical 

 Journal,' 1879, vol. ix., p. 818. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea, Nile Land. 



Ebenace^e. 



Bush Guarri, Omgwali of the Kafirs, Emboto of 

 Mossamedes (Euclea lanceolata, E. Aley.). — Shrub or 

 small tree. Wood dark, heavy, and durable. Fruits 



