Chapter V: The Ivory Coast

Thanks to Monsieur Auguste Chevalier’s very varied and extensive travels on the Ivory Coast, we have obtained very graphic descriptions of the belt of forest extending nearly 150 miles inland and parallel to the coast.

In his books _Les Végétaux Utiles de l’Afrique Tropicale Française_, Fasc. V., _Première Etude sur les Bois de la Côte d’Ivoire_, and _Les Végétaux utiles de l’Afrique tropicale française_, Fasc. VII (Première Partie), _Documents sur le Palmier à Huile_, on the vegetation of this French Colony, not only are there general descriptions of some of the best and most accessible forests, but also there are full descriptions of the individual trees, together with most of their botanical and most valuable vernacular names.

Considering that the area of the Ivory Coast is 130,000 square miles, and the forest belt about 150 miles wide, the mahogany industry should be still further developed than it is at the present time.

So far, on the average, the Ivory Coast has been noted for its figured mahogany, the Ports of Grand Bassam, Assinie (a town and river of Upper Guinea), and La Hou being the most noted, and having given almost their name to different classes of Ivory Coast mahogany. For several reasons this type of mahogany has fetched higher prices than that of the average from elsewhere. Sassandra, at the mouth of a similar named river, and also Cavally, on the Cavally, are minor ports for the shipment of mahogany.

First and foremost the wood obtained from what Monsieur Chevalier terms _Khaya Ivoriensis_ is of a much more sheeny nature than that of either _Khaya Senegalensis_, _Khaya grandis_ or _Khaya Punchii_.

In the next place, the method of working is most peculiar. Usually, individual natives cut a few trees at a time, standing nearest a waterway or lagoon; in fact, these were picked trees which the natives thought contained figured wood, and this had the effect of only a one- sided working of the forest, thus leaving many other valuable trees. On the average, the distribution of the numbers and of the various species is about the same as in other parts of West Africa. Apparently many of the ordinary trees have often been left standing, or at any rate most of those which are too inaccessible. A tree standing more than about a mile from water is too far for a native working almost single-handed, and only collecting a few labourers for hauling his logs to the waterway.

In recent years, however, British as well as French firms, with a larger amount of capital, have started to work the forests. Regulations have been drawn up by the local Government in a similar manner and of a similar nature to those in force generally on the West Coast of Africa. The Government also has built a railway passing through and near some of the forests north of Grand Bassam. Since its inception, a further impetus has been given to the mahogany trade. However, in the matter of water transport, the rivers of the Ivory Coast, such as the Tano, mostly flowing in British territory, but emptying itself into the sea at Assinie (the port for logs in French territory), the Yar or Abi, the Komoe, the Zini, and Bandana, the Sassandra and Cavally, can none of them be said to be at all good for the floating out of logs. La Hou is the port for the Bandana and Zini Rivers, after their junction; Sassandra is the port for the Sassandra and Cavally for the Cavally. At the mouth of each of them there is a shallow bar, and this in turn causes a bad surf, and in other parts the coast lacks harbours, and the formation of it is unsuitable for the shipment of timber. No doubt, as time goes on, an effective means will be invented for dealing with the passage of the logs through the surf, especially at the mouths of rivers. So far, from all accounts, the rivers themselves have not been cleared of snags and rocky obstructions for the transport of the timber. This factor again has reacted on the output, and many of the finest forests remain unworked. Owing to the fact of this accidental policy of only cutting the best mahogany trees, the intensive exploitation of the forests by cutting other species of trees (the timber of which has already found a market in Europe) has been greatly hindered. Among such timbers are the following:

_Khaya Ivoriensis_,

_Chlorophora excelsa_,

_Lophira alata_,

_Afzelia microcarpa_,

_Entandrophragma macrophylla_,

_Canarium Schweinfurthii_, or _Occidentalis_.

On the whole, English firms working on the Ivory Coast have been encouraged and not hindered, but some of the minor regulations appear to be rather irksome and vexatious in their working, and the firms have felt that their tenure of the forest rights was not quite so secure as elsewhere in West Africa.

The export duties placed on mahogany cut on the banks of the Tano in Gold Coast territory are almost of such a nature as to prohibit the profitable working of the Tano forests.

LIST OF TREES

(CHEVALIER’S.)

=Pandanaceæ.=

_Pandanus candelabrum_. Sometimes known as Screw Pine.

A well-branched tree, supported by aerial roots; leaves spinous and in
dense spirals.

=Palmæ.=

_Borassus flabellifer_ Ronier (Colons); Dendo (Attie); Makube (Fanti); Ekube (Agni).

=Liliaceæ.=

_Dracæna Perrotetti_. Nkiebe (Mbonoi); Adjonde (Ebrie).

=Ulmaceæ.=

_Celtis integrifolia_. Mgua (Abe); Tongo (Bondoukou).

=Moraceæ.=

_Antiaris toxiaria_. Ake (Mbonoi).

_Chlorophora excelsa_. Corkwood (English); Akede (Abe); Bakana (Fanti); Guele (Bondoukou); Elui (Agni); Bonzo (Bambara); Agui (Ebrie); Odum (Appollonien).

_Ficus Goliath_. Abono (Mbonoi).

_Ficus Guineensis_. Aturn (Mbonoi).

_Ficus sp._ Mekhi (Attie); Diangue (Agni); Karfa (Bambara).

_Pontya excelsa_. Metchi (Attie); Triwa (Agni).

_Morus mesozygia_. Bana (Attie); Cecerui (Agni).

_Musanga Smithii_. Parasolier (Colons); Loho (Abe); Guima Djuna (Bondoukou); Egui (Agni); Congo-congo (Gabonais).

_Myrianthus arboreus_. Agnon (Abe); Atolaie (Mbonoi); Agniere (Ebrie).

_Myrianthus serratus_. Nianga-magui (English); Diancangue (Attie); Nianga (Agni); Nianga-magui (Indenie).

_Treculia africana_. Izaquente Portugais (Colons); Yukugo (Bondoukou).

=Olacaceæ.=

_Coula edulis_. Atsan (Attie); Bogüe (Agni); Akion (Ebrie).

_Ongokea Klaineana_. So (Abe).

_Strombosia pustulata_. Myole Polie (Abe); Patabua (Bondoukou); Fognian (Mbonoi).

=Octoknemataceæ.=

_Octoknema affinis_. Guangua (Attie).

=Anonaceæ.=

_Cleistopholis patens_. Kotopuan (Attie); Bofu (Fanti); Eutie (Agni).

_Enantia chlorantha_. Mbawe (Abe); Esuro (Attie).

_Monodora myristica_. Mbang (Attie); Efuen (Agni); Hane (Ebrie).

_Stenanthera hamata_. T’sainfi (Attie); Surua (Agni).

_Pachypodanthium_.

_Xylopia æthiopica_. Ethiopian pepper (Colons); Fonde (Attie); Efomu (Agni); Endiar or N’diar (Wolof).

_Xylopia parviflora_.

=Myristicaceæ.=

_Cœlocaryon oxycarpum_. Kinkonawon (Mbonoi).

_Pycnanthus Kombo_. Walehe (Abe); Hetere (Bondoukou); Etama (Agni); Anaküe (Mbonoi); Edna (Appolonien).

=Capparidaceæ.=

_Buchholzia macrophylla_. Mon (Attie); Akotompo (Fanti); Amizi (Agni); Do (Trepo).

=Rosaceæ.=

_Chrysobalanus ellipticus_. Hanfuru (Agni).

_Parinarium robustum_. Aroba (Mbonoi).

_Parinarium tenuifolium_. Simua (Attie); Gatesima (Mbonoi).

=Leguminosæ.=

_Albizzia fastigiata_. San (Attie); Piampian (Fanti); Kuanguan (Agni).

_Albizzia ferruginea_.

_Albizzia gigantea_. Turndogo, Bosole (Bondoukou).

_Albizzia rhombifolia_. Küe (Attie); Pranpran (Fanti); Kure (Agni).

_Afzelia microcarpa_. Asemigniri (Mbonoi).

_Aphanocalyx sp._ Redwood (Colons); Taceribe (Mbonoi); Arabmetu (Adionkron).

_Baphia nitida_. Camwood (English); Tte (Attie); Ekuro (Fanti); Exin (Agni); Eseme (Mbonoi).

_Berlinia acuminata_. Beguan (Attie); Gueguirotta baka (Agni).

_Cynometra Vogelii_. Tiupe (Attie).

_Cynometra cryptosepalum_. Kiukuesin (Attie); Patapara (Agni).

_Daniellia oblonga_. Trakuan (Attie); Kuangua (Agni).

_Dialium Dinklagei_.

_Dialium Guineense_. Fe (Attie); Warie (Agni).

_Erythrophlœum Ivoriensis_. Amerere (Agni).

_Erythrophlœum Guineense_. Erüi (Agni); Teli (Bambara); Aranhe (Mbonoi).

_Lonchocarpus sericeus_. Acacia de Gabon (Colons); Akuosi, Amba (Fanti); Ekopa (Agni).

_Macrolobium Palisoti_.

_Milletia sp._ Vandaküe (Attie); Bakahehessi (Agni); Ekimi (Mbonoi).

_Parkia Agboensis_. Lo (Abe); Dogo (Bondoukou); Asama (Mbonoi).

_Pentaclethra macrophylla_. Owala (Gabonais).

_Piptadenia Africana_. Bon (Attie); Nainvi (Bondoukou); Kuangua iniama (Agni).

_Piptadenia Chevalieri_. Lo (Attie).

_Pterocarpus esculentus_. Totohote (Attie); Assihaoto (Agni).

_Tetrapleura Thonningii_.

=Pandaceæ.=

_Porphyranthus Zenkeri_. Tebo (Attie); Akwankusuma (Fanti); Akuana (Agni).

=Linaceæ.=

_Phyllocosmus Africanus_.

=Humiriaceæ.=

_Saccoglottis Gabunensis_. Amuan (Attie).

=Rutaceæ.=

_Fagara macrophylla_. Hanwego (Bondoukou); Kengüe (Mbonoi).

_Zanthoxylum parvifolium_. M’Bon (Attie); Kanton (Fanti); Hendje, Hengué (Agni).

=Simarubaceæ.=

_Hannoa Klaineana_. Haiefai? (Abe); Neube? (Attie); Hete bake (Mbonoi).

_Irvingia_. Akwabu (Mbonoi); Lubigniati (Adionkron).

_Mannia Africana_. Hate (Attie); Sotibia (Fanti); Bomoku (Agni); Akodo (Mbonoi).

=Burseraceæ.=

_Canarium Occidentalis_. Okume d’Ivoire (Colons); Segna (Attie); Krendja Haigue (Agni).

=Meliaceæ.=

_Bingeria Africana_. Hakue (Attie); Hague (Agni).

_Carapa microcarpa_. Dona (Abe); Kuli pia (Bondoukou); Kobi (Bambara).

_Carapa velutina_. Bibiabe (Attie); Akumasse (Fanti); Sorowa (Agni).

_Charia Indeniensis_. Zacoba (Attie); Zacoba (Agni).

_Entandrophragma ferruginea_. Locobo (Attie); Tiamatiama (Agni).

_Entandrophragma macrophylla_. Baka-biringui (Abe); Lokoba (Attie); Kaiguigo (Bondoukou); Makua (Mbonoi); Tiamatiama (Appolonien).

_Entandrophragma rufa_. Cedrat (Colons); Kaiguigo (Bondoukou).

_Entandrophragma Septentrionalis_. Baka-birin-gui (Abe); Keiwgo (Bondoukou).

_Khaya Ivoriensis_. Bariba or Biribi (Colons); Ekuie (Abe); Lokobua (Attie); Dukuma Dugura (Agni); Humpe (Ebrie); Tiamatiama (Appolonien).

_Pynærtia Occidentalis_. Hainde (Agni); Kassekui (Mbonoi); Dubiri Keguigo (Appolonien).

_Trichilia Candollei_. Tanna (English); Fe (Attie); Tenuba, Tanuba (Agni).

_Trichilia cedrata_. Ngnanake (Abe); Mbosse (Agni); Anokue (Mbonoi).

_Trichilia acutifoliata_.

=Euphorbiaceæ.=

_Macaranga Heudelotii_. Abo (Attie); Eson (Fanti); Ekna (Agni).

_Mæsobotrya Stapfiana_. Senan (Attie); Emuinguim (Fanti); Asa bogüie (Agni).

_Oldfieldia Africana_. African Teak (English); Fu (Attie); Etüi (Agni).

_Ricinodendron Africanus_. Hobo Hapi (Abe); Isain (Attie); Sosaü (Fanti); Haipi (Bondoukou); Haipi (Agni); Poposi (Mbonoi); Poposi (Ebrie); Nbob (Moyen Cavally).

_Uapaca Benguelensis_. African Oak (English); Chêne d’Afrique (Colons); Rikio (Abe); Niondobi (Bondoukou); Cosomon (Bambara); Sannaba (Mbonoi).

_Uapaca Bingervillensis_. Rikio (Abe); Na (Attie); Kayo (Bondoukou); Elekhua (Agni); Orobo (Mbonoi).

_Alchornea sp._ Bonyurome (Mbonoi); Aguaya (Ebrie); Tatairo (Moyen Cavally).

_Baccaurea Bonneti_. Habizacue (Attie); Kuatiecuale (Agni).

_Bridelia speciosa_. Chicue (Attie).

_Hasskarlia didymostemon_. Nguepe (Attie); Echirua (Agni).

=Anacardiaceæ.=

_Hæmatostaphis Barteri_. Vi (Abe); Esanke, Esangue (Attie).

_Lannea acidissima_. Ngolo ngoloti (Abe); Tchiko (Attie); Kakoro (Fanti); Durgo, Duroko, Duko (Bondoukou); Borepore (Agni).

_Lannea sp._ Ebruke (Attie); Bembe (Bambara).

_Spondias lutea_. Ngua (Abe); Ningo (Bambara); Haperrie (Mbonoi).

=Icacinaceæ.=

_Leptaulus daphnoides_. Paradedi (Attie); Eborodumuen (Agni).

=Sapindaceæ.=

_Blighia sapida_. Sago (Bondoukou); Finzan (Bambara).

_Deinbollia Indeniensis_. Ngua, Abo (Attie); Ekosuba, Zenna, Kerenya (Agni); Kaüsa (Indenie).

_Placodiscus pseudostipularis_. Para dakue (Attie).

=Tiliaceæ.=

_Duboscia macrocarpa_. Pianro (Agni).

=Bombacaceæ.=

_Bombax Buonopozense_.

=Sterculiaceæ.=

_Cola cordifolia_. Awa (Attie); Amhio (Bondoukou); Dabudabu (Agni); Ntaba (Bambara).

_Cola mirabilis_. Gnibi (Attie); Kamou aguire (Agni).

_Cola proteiformis_. Kouanda (Attie); Kokotsi (Fanti); Guiangon (Agni).

_Cola vera_. Awasse (Abe); Lo (Attie); Buesse (Mbonoi); Hapo (Ebrie); Guere (Neyau); Guresu (Bete); Hure (Plapo); We (Trepo); Halu (Adionkron).

_Pterygota cordifolia_. Ape (Attie); Sounoum (Fanti); Ware Borf ware (Agni).

_Sterculia oblonga_. Azodo (Abe).

_Sterculia tragacantha_. Porepore (Abe); Botapia (Attie); Lomburu (Bondoukou); Kotokie (Indenia).

_Triplochiton scleroxylon_. Hofa (Abe); Samba, Sankamba (Bondoukou); Batabua (Agni); Wa-wa (Appolonien); Wa-wa (Indenia).

=Scytopetalaceæ.=

_Rhaptopetalum Tieghemi_. Mosangui (Attie); Djo Arbi (Mbonoi).

=Ochnaceæ.=

_Lophira procera_. Nokue (Attie); Esore (Agni).

=Guttiferæ.=

_Allanblackia parviflora_. Wohotelimon (Abe); Bissaboko (Attie); Akumase (Fanti); Alabenun (Agni); Wotobe Ewotebo (Mbonoi).

_Garcinia polyantha_. Mamie Kini (Agni).

_Ochrocarpus Africanus_. African Apricot (Colons); Quelipe Kelipe (Bondoukou).

_Pentadesma leucantha_. Piche Aboko (Attie); Allahbanunu (Agni).

_Symphonia globulifera_. Arquane (Mbonoi).

=Flacourtiaceæ.=

_Homalium Africanum_. Akouibia (Fanti); Akoima (Agni).

_Scottellia coriaceæ_. Bakaza (Attie); Aburuhi (Fanti).

_Scottellia Kamerunensis_. Akosica (Abe); Edde (Mbonoi).

=Rhizophoraceæ.=

_Rhizophora racemosa_. Paletuvier rouge (Colons); Ntagne (Attie); Koghia bera (Fanti); Ende (Agni).

=Combretaceæ.=

_Anogeissus sp._ Kakaleka (Bondoukou); Krekete (Bambara).

_Combretodendron viridiflora_. Kati (Abe); Esive (Mbonoi).

_Terminalia altissima_. Pe (Abe); Fram (Bondoukou); Frake (Agni).

_Terminalia Ivoriensis_. Satinwood (English); Mboti, Buma (Attie); Tuhidja (Bondoukou); Framine (Agni); Fela (Bambara); Cauri (Mbonoi).

=Myrtaceæ.=

_Eugenia syzygium_. Amerere (Agni).

=Melastomaceæ.=

_Memecylon polyanthemos_. Taisin (Attie); Tai (Agni).

=Ebenaceæ.=

_Diospyros sanza_. Nguobi, Kusibiri (Attie); Sanza, Minika, Asun, Seka (Agni).

=Oleaceæ.=

_Linociera Mannii_. Akodiombi, Zakuebiembi (Attie); Akokotsua (Fanti); Aqua egbua (Agni); Akoriie (Indenie).

=Loganiaceæ.=

_Anthocleista nobilis_. Buro-Nuro (Mbonoi).

=Apocynaceæ.=

_Alstonia Congensis_. Kokue (Attie).

_Conopharyngia crassa_. Choka (Attie); Akotompo Atsim (Fanti); Pakie- pakie, Kuakie-kuakie (Agni); Apukur (Mbonoi).

_Funtumia Africana_. Pesin (Attie); Wala (Bondoukou).

_Funtumia elastica_. Pechi (Attie); Poyndua (Fanti); Efurumundu (Agni); Ofuntum (Appolonien); Twe (Neyau); Uruba su (Bete); Dorose-Populu (Plapo); Bebeti (Moyen Cavally).

_Picralima Elliotii_. Hainfain (Attie); Kakana (Agni).

_Rauwolfia vomitoria_. Embi-siembi (Agni); Gonguonkiur (Mbonoi).

=Verbenaceæ.=

_Vitex micrantha_. Kiangu (Mbonoi).

=Bignoniaceæ.=

_Spathodea campanulata_. Tulipier de Gabon (Colons); Kokomazur (Mbonoi).

=Rubiaceæ.=

_Grumilea vanosa_. Tchiat Kottse (Attie); Aburese baka (Agni).

_Gardenia viscidissima_.

_Mitragyne macrophylla_. Sofo (Attie); Bahia (Agni).

_Morinda citrifolia_. Alongua (Bondoukou); Sangongo (Bambara).

_Pseudocinchona Africana_. Mbrahu (Abe); Kiumba (Bondoukou).

_Sarcocephalus esculentus_. Tetere (Mbonoi).

_Sarcocephalus Pobeguini_. Ndebere (Attie); Ekusamba (Fanti); Boisima (Agni); Zeronga (Bambara).