O82 REPORT OF THE HARVARD AFRICAN EXPEDITION 
the banks more precipitous, the palms have taken to the swamps and become 
dominant. To the natives these trees must be considered a heaven-sent. bless- 
ing, for not only do the fronds furnish fences, and thatching for their huts, but 
perhaps as celebrated and equally important, it furnishes a sort of wine. When 
first fermented, before reaching the vinegary stage, the beverage is slightly 
sweet and lightly flavored with an aromatic essence that is not altogether 
disagreeable. While the alcohol content is about the same as beer, it never- 
theless is shghtly exhilarating if enough is absorbed. Undoubtedly the liquor 
as used by the natives must be more concentrated, for when it is imbibed by 
porters on the march, they soon begin to chatter and sing with zeal. By the 
time the wine has received sufficient strength to produce that effect, however, 

No. 415. — View to the south from Firestone Plantation No. 3, to show the 
slightly rolling country and occasional hills 
it has lost its agreeable taste, and seems to be teeming with life. A word should 
also be given to the use of the fronds in making fences for capturing wild game. 
These are chin high or slightly lower, and extend for some distance, occasion- 
ally they are as much as three hundred yards long. Openings, a foot in diame- 
ter are made near the ground at frequent intervals and in each of these is placed 
a noose so arranged that when the trigger is touched, a sapling bent to form 
a bow is released, and the noose is tightened. This form of snare, shown in 
the accompanying photograph is used for ground birds and small animals. 
The floors of these raphia swamps are frequently carpeted by species of 
Selaginella, with Marantaceous plants occasionally forming the undergrowth. 
The only other plant in this place is a vine that grows over the palms and pro- 
duces clusters of large pea-shaped flowers on the end of pendant stems. The 
flowers are described in the field notes as being at first white, then with age 
and just prior to dropping, becoming “‘light drab,” the inner upper petals 
