99 



Appendix I 

 NOTES ON OUTFIT AND LIFE ON THE COAST. 



The West African Pocket Book issued by the Crown Agents for 

 the Colonies contains information for the guidance of officers coming 

 to any part of the West Coast. It has been represented, however, 

 that the conditions on the West Coast are pecuUar to that part of the 

 world and so httle information is available to assist a Forest Officer 

 in his own special equipment that it is advisable to add a few notes 

 of assistance to prospective Gold Coast Forest Officers. The main 

 facts to be borne in mind are that a new Forest Officer has to be prepared 

 for a more or less isolated hfe in the bush and must be as self-contained 

 as possible. If in doubt as to what to bring he should bring more 

 rather than less but always remembering that he must at first be pre- 

 pared to be mobile. He will as far as possible be attached to a Senior 

 Officer for the first few months, but he must be prepared to change 

 his station at short notice and to spend periods of a month or more 

 away from his station, touring the " bush." 



In the Gold Coast the term " bush " is generally applied to the 

 dense forest and is the equivalent of the Eastern " jungle." The open 

 Savannah country is generally known as the " grass " or " orchard " 

 country. 



There can be no question that a new Forest Officer cannot bring 

 his wife with him his first tour and it is inadvisable for him to think 

 of doing so for the first few tours. Except at a very few stations there 

 are at present no definite quarters able to be allotted to Forest Officers. 

 Apart from that, a new man will be expected to travel considerably, 

 his wife cannot then accompany him, and it is difficult for her to be 

 left alone. As he rises in the service his travelling will be neccessarily 

 curtailed, his station permanent and he will then be able to be accom- 

 panied by his wife. 



Preparations at Home. 



It is strongly recommended that the advice and assistance 

 of one of the firms who specially deal in West African out-fitting be 

 obtained. There are several in London and from their special know- 

 ledge of the conditions on the West Coast their advice will be of 

 considerable assistance and probably a saving of expense. 



In assembling one's belongings it is important to realise the 

 peculiar means of transport that is in vogue on the Coast, namely, 

 carrying on the head. Despite the recent progress of railways and 



