418 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 
with their dense evergreen forests up to an altitude of 5,000 feet. 
Amongst the more valuable trees are the Cola (Cola laterita), Cam- 
wood (Pterocarpus Soyauxii), Albizzia species, Ibadan, Ficus Vogelit. 
Below this point, at about 4,000 feet, Iroko, Chlorophora excelsa, Cork- 
wood, Musanga Smithii, and tree-ferns reappear, as well as Acacia 
Farnesiana. The Wild Date, Phenix sp., occurs again about this 
altitude. The Oil Palm occurs again in the valleys. On the lower 
slopes there are Ricinodendron, Bombax, Sarcocephalus, and Trema. 
Continuing farther northwards we have the Bambuto Ranges, with 
their fringing forests on the banks of the streams, and the bamboo 
groves at an elevation of about 8,000 feet. Willows and small Abys- 
sinian plants are found, and with the flowering of Delphiniums in the 
grass we might almost be in Europe. Toward the Cross River side, the 
mountains are very steep, and isolated peaks, such as that of Monkwa 
Rock, stand out in solitary grandeur amongst the lower forested 
mountains of the Cross River. In the Cross River basin we have 
mainly six large rivers, all joining the Cross River. On the right or 
northern bank these are the Manyu, Mo, Manya, and Oyi, above 
Mamfe, and on the left or southern bank the Mbu and Manja, as 
well as the Awa, joining below Mamfe. All except one of these rise 
amongst the forests, and it is on the banks of these that the finest 
forests are situated, although in some parts, such as near Tinto, the 
natives have been more active in farming and have cleared large 
areas of them. This is more the case nearer the villages, and 
nearer the roads, even where the forest has been cut down, there are 
almost continuous groves of Oil Palms, less than a quarter of its 
produce having as yet been collected or sold. Amongst the most 
valuable timber trees of these forests are the Ebony (Diospyros), Bush 
Teak (Chlorophora excelsa), African Whitewood (Enantia chlorantha), 
Camwood (Pterocarpus Soyauxia), Bilinga (Afzelia Africana), Hard- 
wood (Millettia sp.), Sapeli Mahogany (Entandrophragma Candollei), 
Light Mahogany (Canartum Mansfeldii), Hardwood (Newtonia Zenkeri), 
Wild Mango (Irvingia Barteri), Mukonja (Terminalia superba com- 
bretacew), White Cedar (Pycnanthus Kombo), Red Oak (Berlinia acu- 
minata), Berlinia species with very large pod, three species of Walnut, 
Albizzias, Red Ironwood (Lophira procera), African Wood Oil Nut 
Tree (Ricinodendron Africana), Parinarium sp. (Dialium). 
The range of hills Nda Ali is also forest-covered and is situated 
in the Cross River basin. 
More or less adjacent to these areas, and partly between these and 
the Meme River forest, are those of Gonistan and the Rumpi Moun- 
tains. These again are quite untouched, although, lying some distance 
away from navigable rivers, they may subsequently prove of greater 
value when eventually opened up with the forest tramway or other 
means of transport. The species of trees found here are very 
