THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 239 
smoked and dried, much of it goes bad. This method of 
getting fish is also used by individual natives in stagnant 
backwaters of rivers and in isolated pools. The poison 
apparently does not spoil the taste or other quality of the 
fish. Occasionally this palm is also used for getting out the 
Piassava fibre, but it appears to be more difficult, and it is 
doubtful if it is as valuable as the fibre obtained from R. 
Hookeriana. Owing, however, to the fact that both species 
grow in the same locality and often quite mixed together, it 
is highly probable that part of the Piassava obtained is 
taken from this palm. In order to stimulate the flow of 
sap, a fire is often made at the base of the tree, which 
burns all the lower leaves and even part of the top, and 
thus induces an extra flow of sap, but of course to the 
detriment of a continual yield, as the tree subsequently dies. 
In many parts of the country there is a regular local 
industry in the making of roofing mats from the leaves of this 
palm. The small ones, about 3 feet long, are, however, sold 25 
for 3d. and the big ones, over 6 feet long, 25 for 6d. In some 
places they are cheaper. As a roofing material they are very 
durable, and will last at least seven years. If, however, they 
are. put on very thickly, overlapping more than two-thirds 
of their width, and the roof is thoroughly smoked from 
the inside, it becomes nearly black, and will last fifteen 
years. For native houses it is one of the most used roofing 
materials, except in the Benin country, where the large Ewayon 
leaves are used. Roofing mats are, of course, being superseded 
by galvanized iron in the more civilized places. The leaf stalk 
is used both as a pole for pushing lighters or heavily laden 
canoes through comparatively shallow water, or as a boat-hook, 
or pushing and guiding pole for the smaller canoes in getting 
up swift, winding and comparatively narrow rivers. 
Raphia Ruffia. Roofing Palm. 
Chief Characteristics—It does not form a proper stem, like 
other raphias; the long, thin leaves sprout out from the ground, 
and only when the tree is some years old is there any trace of 
a stem, which is quite short. The petioles are thin, compared 
to the length, and the leaflets are thin and narrow. 
Distribution.—It is found in the Calabar and Ogoja Provinces 
of Nigeria. It is often planted near watercourses in damp 
valleys to provide roofing material for the natives, who make 
mats from the leaves (Ikom, Obubra districts). 
Phenix reclinata. Swamp Date Palm. LElekikobi (Yoruba); 
Ukukon (Benin). 
A common tree of the Warri province of Nigeria. It is 
