424 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



Jesswon, near Cape St. Mary's. Among the Timnelis 

 it is called " Mabubu " or " Egbubu," while the Soosus 

 term it Goguoi. Afzelius remarks that the root and 

 entire plant are employed as medicinal agents by the 

 native populations, principally to remove the debility 

 which follows fevers. With this object they boil the 

 plant, together with the leaves of Morinda citrifolia, 

 L., and with the decoction wash the body every 

 morning. The acid pulp is also used to relieve the 

 thirst in febrile diseases, or when induced by long 

 journeys. — 'Pharmaceutical Journal,' vol. xvi., 1857, 

 p. 470. 



Black Amomum, Obro-duddu of Yoruba, &c. 

 {Amomum escapum, Sims). — In favourable localities 

 this Amomum attains a height of eight or ten feet. 

 Under the name of " Massa amquona," Afzelius states 

 that the leaves and stems are endowed with the finest 

 aroma, both in respect to scent and taste. The seeds 

 are enveloped in a whitish pulp, free from acidity, are 

 numerous, and of a shining brown colour ; they are 

 extremely hot, peppery, and camphoraceous, and 

 v/hen chewed in any quantity leave a cool sensation 

 on the palate like some of the oils of mint. Among 

 the native tribes every portion of the plant is rendered 

 available for medicinal purposes. A decoction of the 

 roots, leaves, &c., is frequently used in colic, diarrhoea, 

 dysentery, and other gastro-enteritic affections. The 

 pulverised seeds applied to the temples constitute a 



