450 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



Maize, Ebru (Fante), Abble (Akkrah), Birrie or 

 Abirrie (Popo), Agbahdo (Yoruba), Beakpa (Bonny), 

 Ebocboat (Old Calabar), M'bah (Gabon), Massah 

 (Congo), {Zea Mays, L.). — Annual cane-like grass, 

 growing to a height of four to five feet. Maize 

 possesses the nutritive properties of the cereal grains 

 generally ; but it is especially remarkable amongst 

 them for its fattening quality, which depends on its 

 containing a larger amount of fatty matter than any 

 other of these grains. It is enormously used in warm 

 countries as we use wheaten flour, and on the West 

 Coast of Africa is prepared into a kind of bread called 

 "kankie," and also a favourite beverage known as 

 "pitto," or "peto." In India the green cobs are 

 gathered and cooked like peas or asparagus, and 

 afford a very agreeable article of food ; and the 

 mature cobs are also roasted and eaten. In South 

 America a kind of beer called Chica or Maize beer 

 is made from the grain, and is extensively used. 

 The finer qualities of Maize starch are largely used as 

 a substitute for arrowroot, and for making biscuits : 

 while the lower grades serve for laundry purposes. 

 Maize also yields a limpid yellowish oil which burns 

 well and is a good lubricant. The leaves afford a 

 fibre capable of being spun and woven like flax, and 

 ultimately a pulp from which a most beautiful paper 

 can be produced.— ' Pharmaceutical Journal,' 1852, 

 vol. xi., p. 348 ; ' Medicinal Plants,' Bentley and 

 Trimen, No. 296 ; ' Spon's Encyclopaedia of the 



