VEGETATION. 195 district, ruled over by Chief Kanna. I have seen such stretches of primitive forest in Monbuttu, and there is no doubt that this country was originally quite covered with forests, to judge from the remains of virgin woods which still exist. The gradual disappearance of the forest is to be attributed to the comparatively thick population, the constant removal of villages and fields, and to the inroads of both axe and fire. When I have seen the relics of ages long past, the gigantic frames of - trees, thrown across the way, having been cut down and given over to decay because “they spread too much shade over the crops,’ I have felt that Nature herself was profaned. After many years of wandering through these regions, I am inclined to think that in ancient times the true Central African forest region, that is, the permanence of closed woods containing’ westerly species, extended much farther to the north than it does to-day. Towards the east, as far as the district of Janda, I have observed such curious species as Artocarpus* and Anthocleista, whereas the valley of the Bahr-el-Jebel throughout its whole length, as far south as the lake, points to steppe vegetation, as also does the entire eastern district of our provinces.

The continuous descent of the road to Tingazi shows that the country slopes towards the west; the plateau on which the small station of Maigo is situated alone rises a little above the surrounding country. The Arabs have named this place Kala’at-el-Homr (‘the red hill”), on account of its being covered by a strata of red bog ore; it forms a rich mine of iron, which is much used and valued in the country. At its summit are several large pools of rain-water, deeply sunk into the ironstone, which here presents the appearance of a rocky crust ; they are surrounded by short green velvety cushions of Selaginella, upon which hundreds of little frogs assemble, while nimble sandpipers with nodding heads listen to their concert. An hour before reaching Tingazi, Nenja, the residence of the Monbuttu prince Yangara, was passed; it is situated upon a high hill, and commands an extensive view. In * True Artocarpus does not exist in tropical Africa. The writer refers to Myrianthus, a species of this family also found in western tropical Africa ; the African. Trumpet-tree (Musanga) should be mentioned in connexion with this subject.—G. 8.