FORESTRY OF IVEST AFRICA. 439 



The hard outer wood is used for posts, rafters, and 

 other purposes, and is imported into Europe for 

 the manufacture of umbrella-handles, walking-sticks, 

 rulers, fancy-boxes, &c. — ' Popular History of Palms,' 

 Seemann, p. loo, &c. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Doum Palm of Egypt, orGingerbreadTree {Hyfkczne 

 Tliebaica, Mart. \H. giimeensis, Thon.]). — Tree about 

 thirty feet high. The wood is used in Africa for 

 various domestic purposes. The rind of the fruit is 

 eaten, and the seeds turned into beads for rosaries. 

 — ' Popular History of Palms,' Seemann, p. 214. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



African Oil Palm {Elais giiineensis, Jacq.). — This 

 palm attains a height of from twenty to thirty feet, 

 and is the source of the celebrated palm oil. The 

 natives use the oil which is obtained from the 

 mesocarp of the fruit very largeU' in their food, and 

 for oiling their bodies. The Bubis or Boobees of 

 the Island of Fernando Po make an excellent poultice 

 of it, which they apply ^^•hen the hand of an\- person 

 found guilty of adultery has, in accordance with the 

 usage of these people, been cut off. Among the 

 more civilized natives this oil is used in the manu- 

 facture of soap and for lighting their huts, but for this 

 latter purpose the oil from the kernel is generally 

 preferred. The harvest of nuts fit for use is biennial, 

 but the chief quantity of commercial oil is obtained 



