Liberia

The fauna of Liberia offers certain peculiarities, at least as regards vertebrates. It is probable that the Liberian chimpanzee may offer one or more distinct varieties ; there is an interesting local development of the Diana monkey, sometimes called the bay thighed monkey (Cercopithecus diana ignita) on account of its brilliant orange-red thighs. One or more species of bats are pe culiar to the country—Vespertilio stampflii and perhaps Rous settus buttikoferi; two species of shrew (Crocidura), one dor mouse (Graphiurus nagtglasii) ; the pygmy hippopotamus (H. liberiensis)—differing from the common hippopotamus by its much smaller size and by the reduction of the incisor teeth to a single pair in either jaw, or occasionally to the odd number of three; and two remarkable Cepha/ophus antelopes peculiar to this region so far as is known—these are the white-shouldered duiker, Ceplialophus jentinki, and the zebra antelope, C. doriae, a crea ture the size of a small goat, of a bright bay brown, with broad, black zebra-like stripes.

Among birds there is the interesting white-necked guineafowl Agelastes ; one peculiar species of eagle owl (Bubo lettii) and a very handsome sparrow-hawk (Accipiter biittikoferi); a few sun birds, warblers and shrikes are peculiar to the region. The other birds are mainly those of Senegambia and of the West African for est region generally.

As regards reptiles, there are at least seven poisonous snakes— two cobras, two puff-adders and three vipers. The brilliantly col oured red and blue lizard (Agama colonorum) is found in the coast region of eastern Liberia. There are three species of crocodile, at least two chameleons, the large West African python (P. sebae) and a rare Boine snake (Calabaria). On the sea coast there is the leathery turtle (Dermochelis) and also the green turtle (Chelone). In the rivers and swamps there are soft-shelled turtle (Trionyx and Sternothaerus). The land tortoises chiefly belong to the genus Cynyxis. The fresh-water fish seem in their affinities to be nearly allied to those of the Niger and the Nile. As regards invertebrates, few species or genera are peculiar to Liberia. The gigantic scorpions (Pandinus imperator)— more than 6 in. long— are a common feature in the forest.

Nowhere, perhaps, does the flora of West Africa attain a more wonderful development than in Liberia and in the adjoining regions of Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast. This is partly due to the equatorial position and the heavy rainfall. The most strik ing trees in the forest region are in the basin of the Kavalli ; the giant Funtumia elastica, which grows to an altitude of 200 ft.; various kinds of Parinarium, Oldfieldia and Khaya; the bombax or cotton tree, giant dracaenas, many kinds of fig; Borassus palms, oil palms, the climbing Calamus palms, and on the coast the coco nut. The most important palm of the country, perhaps, is the Raphia vinifera, which produces the piassava fibre of commerce.

There are about 22 different trees, shrubs and vines producing rub ber of more or less good quality. Coffee of several species is indigenous and grows wild. The best known is the celebrated Co ffea liberica. The kola tree is also indigenous. Large edible nuts are derived from Coula edulis of the order Olacineae. The country is exceedingly rich in aroids, ground orchids and tree orchids.

The cultivated trees and plants include, besides coffee, the manioc or cassada, the orange tree, lime, cacao, pineapple (which now runs wild over the whole of Liberia), sour sop, ginger, papaw, alligator apple, avocado pear, okra, cotton (Gossypium peru vianum—the kidney cotton) indigo, sweet potato, capsicum (chillie) bread-fruit, arrowroot (Maranta), banana, yam, "coco" yam (Colocasia antiquorum, var. esculents), maize, sorghum, sugar cane, rice and eleusine (Eleusine), besides gourds, pump kins, cabbages and onions.

As to minerals, iron is widely distributed and is smelted and worked by most of the tribes ; gold is reported to exist in many districts and diamonds have been found, small but of good colour. There is corundum in the eastern part of the country; copper, zinc and other metals are said to occur. Up to 5929, however, no systematic survey of the mineral resources of Liberia had been made.

Towns, Trade, etc.

Monrovia (pop. with the adjacent Kru town, about o,000), the capital and chief port, is about midway along the Liberian coast. It has a few fairly good public build ings and business premises. Robertsport and Grand Basia (Bu chanan), respectively north and south of Monrovia, are among the lesser ports of entry. There are no towns of any size in the inter ior. Up to the World War, Germans had fully two-thirds of the trade, which, however, in 1912, was worth altogether, imports and exports, little more than £500,000. British and Dutch firms had some footing ; between the United States and Liberia, despite the sentimental connection between them, there was little commercial intercourse. Since the war the interests of the United States have been greatly developed. Coffee, rubber, piassava, palm nuts and palm oil are the chief exports. Rubber was first systematically exploited by Europeans in 1898. The imports are miscellaneous— largely cotton goods, salt and rice. Revenue is derived from cus toms (about I of the whole), a poll tax and taxes on rubber. Trade with and among the indigenous tribes was, as lately as 1927, by barter. Native "currency" consisted of brass kettles, cutlasses, kegs of gunpowder, tobacco and pieces of cloth. Some tribes are expert at cotton spinning and weaving; baskets and mats, pottery and wood-work are also native industries. There were, however. signs that Liberia might share in the economic development so marked in other regions of West Africa. There was promise of a cocoa industry.