16 



identified at Kew as yielded by this tree. Mr. Alldridge in a 

 letter dated Sulymah, 2nd May, 1900, addressed to the 

 Governor writes : ''I have the honour to forward a small tin 

 containing a sample of gum which has been brought in from 

 Fanimah. It is stated to be plentiful. I noticed the exudence 

 from the trees when I was passing through Fanimah some time 

 ago, when I was only able to get a very small sample. I have 

 now, fortunately, succeeded in obtaining the present sample, 

 which I trust will be sufficient for experimental purposes and 

 to report upon." Although the gum proved to be of no value 

 the observation respecting the trees yielding it has shown that 

 Khaya senegalensis extends much further (about 500 miles) 

 down the coast than was at first supposed, and it is probable 

 that it may be found still further down. The West African 

 mahogany now in the English market comes from Assinee, a 

 river on the western boundary of Gold Coast and Ashanti. No 

 specimens, as yet, of the leaves and fruit have been received 

 from this locality, but Messrs. Godfrey S. Saunders & Co. have 

 been good enough to furnish the following information respect- 

 ing the timber : — 



The gum was of a dark colour and of little strength. 

 Messrs. Brooks & Green, of Mincing Lane, report that " a con- 

 signment would not be likely to realize sufficient to cover 

 freight and charges." 



11 Messrs. Godfrey S. Saunders & Co., to Royal Gardens* 

 Kew. 



" Dear Sir, — Many thanks for your note and the supply of 

 Gambia mahogany which has just come in. There have been 

 several imports of mahogany from Assinee (lower down on the 

 West Coast of Africa), but they strike me as being of a 

 different wood, being softer-, lighter, and although good useful 

 wood are not, 1 fancy, so good as your specimen, though youis 

 seems a trifle too heavy. This Assinee wood comes forward in 

 well squared logs, generally cut about 14 feet long, and a lot 

 of 27 logs, weighing 43 tons, last in, varies from 24 to 40 

 inches in diameter at the larger end. 



" I think it would be worth while for your friends to ship 

 as a sample 25 logs, hewn as square as possible, 14 feet and 

 upwards in length, a fair average of what could be got ; of 

 course large, sound, straight logs are preferred, free from worm 

 and rot. I think that there is room for quite a good trade 

 in it." 



In a later letter from the same firm it is said : " As to 

 Gambia mahogany I think there is no doubt at all that it 

 should succeed well here, Other kinds are high in price, and 



