veiy perceptible inclination. The vegetation of Obbo,
and the whole of the west side of the mountain range,'
is different from that upon the east side; the soil is
exceedingly rich, producing an abundance of Guinea
grass, with which the plains are covered. This country
produces nine varieties of yams, many of which grow
HEAD-DRESS OF O B BO(l) AND SHOGGO (2 ).
wild in the forests. There is one most peculiar species,
called by the natives “ Colloloilo,” that I had not met
with in other countries. This variety produces several
tubers at the root, and^ also upon the stalk; it does
not spread upon the ground, like most of the vines
that characterise the yams, but it climbs upon tre6s or
upon any object that may tempt its tendrils. From
every bud upon the stalk of this vine springs a bulb,
somewhat kidney-shaped; this increases until, when
ripe, it attains the average size of. a potato.
Bo prolific is this plant, that one vine will produce
about 150 yams : they are covered with a fine skin of
a greenish brown, and are in flavour nearly equal to a
potato, but rather waxy.
There are many good wild fruits, including one very
similar to a walnut in its green shell; the flesh of this
has a remarkably fine flavour, and the nut within
exactly resembles a horse-chestnut in size and fine
mahogany colour. This nut is roasted, and, when
ground and boiled, a species of fat or butter is skimmed
from the surface of the water : this is much prized by
the natives, and is used for rubbing their bodies, being
considered as the best of all fats for the skin; it is
also eaten.
Among the best of the wild fruits is one resembling
raisins; this grows in clusters upon a large tree. Also
a bright yellow fruit, as large as a Muscat grape, and
several varieties of plums. None of these are produced
in Latooka. Ground-nuts are also in abundance
in the forests; these are not like the well-known
African ground-nut of the west coast, but are contained
in an excessively hard shell. A fine quality of
♦ flax grows wild, but the twine generally used by the
natives is made from the fibre of a species of aloe.
Tobacco grows to an extraordinary size, and is prepared
similarly to that of the Ellyria tribe. When