436 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



Phoenix spinosa, Thon. — According to Mr. Barter 

 the natives of Yoruba and Nupe dye the leaves 

 yellow, black with iron and charcoal, and red with 

 liquala of Dawa {^Sorghum vulgare, Pers.). The very 

 young leaflets before the leaves expand are used for 

 the plaiting of hats and caps at Accra. Wine is 

 obtained from this species, and the fruits are much 

 liked by the natives. — ' On the Palms of Western 

 Tropical Africa,' Mann and Wendland (as above), 

 p. 426, &c. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Date Palm {Phcenix dactylifera, L.). — A jigidah or 

 waistband said to be made of the seeds of the Date 

 Palm from Sierra Leone is exhibited in the Kew 

 Museum. 



Calamus sp. — According to Mr. Barter the stems 

 of a species of Calamus are prepared for basket- 

 making by the natives on the Niger. — Kew Museum. 



Ukot of Old Calabar {Raphia Hookeri, M. and W.). 

 — The pleasant taste of the wine obtained from this 

 palm has caused the natives of Old Calabar to 

 cultivate it. The wine is procured by cutting out 

 the terminal inflorescence as soon as it makes its 

 appearance ; the wine is then produced in large 

 quantities. The natives also manufacture cloths, 

 &c., from the epidermis of the leaflets, and the 

 natives on the Sherboro make hammocks from it, as 



