this exposure, the nuts are
put into a boiler full of water, and a liquid, in the process of boiling,
flows upon the top, which when skimmed off, soon hardens and turns rancid;
the kernel of the nut, after this process, is taken out of the boiler, beat
in a paloon, and put into clear water, the shell of the nut sinks, and its
contents float upon the surface, which, when skimmed as before, is finally
put into a pot, fried, and carefully poured off, producing another kind of
oil, used as butter, and having in a great degree its quality.

The wine is extracted from the tree by forming an incision at the bottom of
every cluster of nuts, from each of which flows about a gallon of wine per
day, for a week, when they are closed until the ensuing season. The liquid,
when newly taken from the tree, resembles whey, and in that state has a
sweetish agreeable taste, but it soon ferments and grows sour, changing to
a strong vinegar of a disagreeable smell: in its fermented state it is most
esteemed by the natives, and is productive of inebriety.

A substance overtops the clusters about 10 or 12 inches in diameter, and 3
or 4 feet in height, in a full grown tree, from whence proceeds a stalk,
about 4 inches in length, which, on being boiled in water, makes an
excellent vegetable resembling cabbage, or rather, in taste, the
cauliflower; the leaves of the tree are converted by the natives into
baskets, fishing nets, and cloth.

MEDICINAL PLANTS. _Colla_ is highly esteemed by the natives, and they
attribute to it the virtues of Peruvian bark; the Portuguese, ascribe the
same quality to it, and dispatch from their factories small vessels to
collect all they can procure.

_Castor Oil Rhinum_.-The bush which produces the bud from which this oil
and valuable medicine is extracted, grows in great exuberance upon the
Windward Coast, and its vicinity. A species of bark is in great abundance
also, and is said to be equal in virtue to the Peruvian.

The foregoing enumeration of natural productions, is the result of
unscientific enquiry only; but unquestionably, industrious and professional
research, would discover infinitely more to philosophic and commercial
contemplation, and develope the arcana of nature, dormant here through
ignorance and barbarism.

On the 10th of May, I set out from Bance Island, with the view of exploring
the two branches of the Sierra Leone river, the Rochelle, and the Port
Logo. After rowing a few hours I arrived