340      ON  THE  FRANKINCENSE  TREE  OF  WESTERN  AFRICA. 
the  wooded  slopes  in  the  neighborhood  of  York,  Lumley,  and 
Goderich  villages,  are  the  localities  in  which  it  principally 
abounds,  although  it  has  been  observed  on  the  banks  of  the 
Sherbro  and  other  adjoining  rivers.  If  any  credit  can  be  attached 
to  the  assertions  of  several  Ako'  colonists,  the  same  production 
has  been  met  with  on  the  forest  declivities  of  Fernando  Po,  and 
is  stated  to  be  equally  common  in  Yorruba,  where  it  is  known  by 
the  appellation  of  Ogea  or  Ojeah,  This  plant  would  therefore 
appear  to  be  indigenous  to  various  countries  of  the  African  con- 
tinent, could  any  reliance  be  placed  upon  these  reports  ;  they 
cannot,  however,  be  received  with  implicit  credence,  and  until 
subsequent  observations  verify  their  correctness,  must  continue 
to  be  of  doubtful  value. 
In  Sierra  Leone,  the  Timmane'  or  Soosu  designation  of  Bungbo, 
usually  pronounced  Bungo,*  under  which  the  gum  is  sold  by  the 
native  traders,  has  also  been  conferred  on  the  tree  producing  it, 
and  hence  the  source  of  the  term  Bungo  tree.  A  few  of  the 
more  remarkable  botanical  characteristics  of  this  production  de- 
mand a  brief  notice.  During  the  early  years  of  growth,  the 
young  plant  has  the  bark  of  a  deep  brown,  which  changes  gradu- 
ally in  color  as  it  enlarges  in  magnitude.  When  of  moderate 
size,  the  entire  circumference  of  the  trunk  is  studded  by  a  series 
of  horizontal  excrescences,  or  oblong  elevations  in  the  cortical 
covering,  of  a  pale  or  yellowish-brown  hue,  appearing  in  dense 
parallel  but  disconnected  strata,  a  quarter  of  an  inch  or  more 
apart,  and  varying  from  one-sixth  to  one  inch  in  length,  and 
about  one  or  two  lines  in  breadth.  Being  of  a  lighter  tint  than 
the  surrounding  portions,  they  are  distinctly  perceptible,  and 
answer  as  a  diagnostic  peculiarity  to  identify  the  lesser  shoots. 
As  the  tree  approaches  maturity,  these  elevated  projections  pro- 
portionately diminish,  and  the  cortex,  while  partially  retaining 
its  smoothness,  becomes  traced  by  irregular  patches  of  white  or 
grey.  In  the  course  of  time,  these  patches  enlarge  to  that  extent 
as  to  embrace  in  many  instances  the  entire  surface  of  the  exterior. 
The  inner  cortical  layers  in  plants  of  an  immature  development 
present  a  peculiar  fibrous  character,  are  delicately  organized,  and 
*  "  The  fragrant  gum  called  Bungo  is  the  principal  material  one  mason 
bee  here  uses  for  his  dwelling." — A  Residence  in  Sierra  Leone,  p.  218,  Ed 
by  Mrs.  Norton. 
