FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 425 



favourite mode of relieving headache and certain 

 forms of ophthalmia ; they have also been used as a 

 substitute for cardamoms, as a carminative and stimu- 

 lant in flatulent colic, dyspepsia, visceral irritations, 

 and as an adjunct with purgatives, and with results 

 uniformally favourable. — ' Pharmaceutical Journal,' 

 vol. xvi., 1857, p. 467. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Yellow Amomum, Massa-aba of the Timnehs, 

 Obro-wawa of Yorubas, Longouze of Madagascar 

 {Amomum Danielli, Hook. f). — This plant differs 

 more or less in development, according to the elevation 

 at which it exists. It flourishes in a swampy situa- 

 tion, but in mountainous localities the reduction in its 

 size is considerable. The pulp of the fruit is eaten 

 with avidity by the negro races of Guinea for its 

 agreeable acid flavour and refrigerant qualities. The 

 women and children of the Timneh and Soosu 

 countries often wander in the woods in search of the 

 ripe capsules, both for edible purposes and as an 

 ingredient for some of their medicinal decoctions. 

 The roots and entire plant are also used by them in 

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

 p. SI I. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Swamp or Water Amomum Parlancunpon (Man- 

 dingo), Massa-egbane (Timneh), Kumbulu (Soosu), 

 {Amomum palustre, Afz.).— This species is usually 



