908 REPORT OF THE HARVARD AFRICAN EXPEDITION 
only in the vicinity of the town. Jatropha curcas, stuck into the ground to 
make fences, readily takes root and produces the leaves which for some reason 
are used to cover rice while it is cooking. According to Johnston! the plant 
is also used as a purgative and emetic. It may be for this reason that the 
leaves are used in cooking rice, namely to counteract the effect of the large 
amounts of rice that are eaten. Triwmphetta, a genus common in the region 
above Stanley Pool on the Congo River, is here represented by Trvuwmphetta 
cordifolia that grows in the secondary growth at the edge of the forest. Of 
the weed-like plants that grow around the town, the following may be mentioned: 
Desmodium lasiocarpum, D. paleaceum, Cassia podocarpa, Sida cordifolia, and 
S. veronicifolia, the last known by the Vai tribe as ‘‘Mwelli.” The natives 
in this region use Hibiscus rostellatus in the same manner that those of the 
vicinity of Monrovia use H. swrattensis, namely for craw-craw. 
Rice is still the most important crop, although Cola acuminata, the cola 
nut of commerce, assumes an importance not observed elsewhere. This region 
appears to be especially favorable to the species for large numbers of trees 
grow in a state of semi-cultivation. That is, the tall trees that provide shade 
are allowed to remain, but the undergrowth is cleared away around the cola 
trees. Furthermore, when the trees come into fruit, they are protected from 
the ravages of itinerant natives by taboos or charms. Should one touch the 
fruit, these taboos are supposed to have been given the power to cause sterility 
in women, or loss of sight and other serious misfortunes in men. These charms 
are put on the trees by the medicine man under orders from the chief of the 
village. The reason for such precautions becomes evident when it is realized 
that the cola nut is an important article of trade between these people and 
the Mandingo tradesmen who bring with them brightly-colored cloth and trin- 
kets for which the cola is exchanged. These same tradesmen penetrate into 
Liberia as far as Medina. It would seem that the cola nut could be made an 
important product for export if it were cultivated a little more systematically, 
and could furnish a source of wealth to the natives not only of the interior 
but also of the coastal region. But before such a state of affairs can come about, 
means of communication will have to be improved or otherwise the product 
will continue to be exported by way of the back door of the country with little 
benefit, except to the foreign neighbors. 
PAIATA TO BANGA 
Paiata, our base camp for two weeks, and in an admirable region in which 
to collect, is left behind as we follow the trail almost to Nyalai through fine 
forests, and over slightly rolling country. Between Nyalai and Nyanga, on 
the St. Paul River, is a swamp in which were found Maschalocephalus Dink- 
lagei and a species of Balsamea, the first and only one to be collected during 
the course of the expedition. In the town of Nyanga, a species of Datura with 
double white corollas, was found. The seeds of this were collected and then 
1 Johnston, H. H.: Loc. cit., p. 648. 
