i

MENDE

NATURAL HISTORY

VOCABULARY

BV

FREDERICK AVILLIA]\I HUGH IMIGEOU

Author of "The Mknkk Laxgcage," 190S
"The Languages of West Africa," Vol. I. I9il ; Vol. II. 1013

LONDON
KEGAN PAUL. TRENCH, TRUHNER & CO. L^i>

BROADW.-\Y HOUSE, CARTER LANE. E.G.
1913

BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

THE LANGUAGES OF WEST AFRICA :
A Lino;uistic Survey of about Three Hundred
Languages or Dialects. Demy 8vo, 2 Vols.,
12.S. {\d. net each.

THE MENDE LANGUAGE, containing
useful Phrases, Elementarj^ Grammar, Short
Vocabularies, and Stories for Reading.
Crown <Svo. 7s. (jd. net.

Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.,
Limited.

The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved

IMIEFACE

This vocabulary, wliicli was compiled at Sekoiidi on the
Gold Coast, consists of a list of the names of as many
animals, plants, itc, as the author has been able to observe
personally or to obtain a description of.

It does not profess to be a scientific Natural History
(luide either to the Mende country or to the locality where
it was compiled. It may, however, be found useful to those
who, without any zoological or botanical knowledge, wish to
know something of the Bush, and it can of course be used
in any pait of West Africa if the assistance of an intelligent
Mende can be obtained.

The vocabulary is divided into sections for convenience of
reference, and alphabetical order has been set aside when
a grouping seemed likely to be more useful. Most of the
objects named have come under the author's personal ob-
servation ; but amongst the exceptions, which are from
description only, must be included, besides nearly all the
fish and the varieties of rice, many if not most of the larger
animals. To the author's great regret, the neighbourhood of
Sekondi is deficient in the larger fauna.

Where "(Sch.)" appears against a name it means that the
word appears in Schoen's Vocahulary of the Mende Language,
1884, but no confirmation has been forthcoming.

The Mendes' own country is in the colony of Sierra Leone;
but they are to be found scattered throughout tlie whole
length of the coast-line of West Africa, working chieflv as
labourers or carriers, from as far as Dakar on the north to
Benguela on the south. In tlie f!oId Coast at tlie present
time they possibly number about 1500, and their recognition
of plants there at least bears witness to the range of those
plants over the intei-vening territory.

The Mendes, not being a seaboard people, have not yet

265291

iv NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

invented or borrowed names for all the littoral vegetation,
though their comparatively close proximity to the sea, and
certainly to brackish waterways, rendei's them tolerably well
informed on this subject. With regard, however, to the
numerous foreign plants that are to be found round about
Sekondi, they can of course do no moi'e than say that they
are not in their own country.

As to the nature of the country round Sekondi, in the
radius of an afternoon's walk there are roughly four kinds
of vegetation to be met with. These are the littoral ; the
dense forest, now unfortunately fast disappearing ; the jungle
land which is cropped at intervals of a few years ; and tracts
of open grass land which no doubt was once fertile and
farmed until the invasion of the grass rendered farming it
unprofitable. On this grass land one meets here and there
clumps of trees or solitary fan-palms, just like on the open
country far away to the north beyond the great forest.

The numerous foreign plants that are to be found were
no doubt introduced three or more centuries ago by the
Portuguese, who have always introduced new plants into any
country which they have settled.

It is usually found that forest-dwelling tribes have a good
knowledge of natural history, though strange myths may
exist in connection with some things. Where these myths
occur, the reason probably for their existence is that the
objects themselves are somewhat rare, and not readily brought
into close observation even by the tribe's most experienced
bushman.

The extent of a native's knowledge may seem rather one-
sided. For example, some Mendes seem able to name almost
every plant that is to be found, and they note minute
differences. They can do the same with crawling insects ;
but, when it comes to butterflies, there is no distinction, one
name does for all.

Even if a Mende has not specialised in Bush-lore, every
adult male knows the common plants suitable for food, for
house-building, and for the manufacture of household utensils.
As to the extent of the knowledge possessed by the women,
however, the author has no information, though he would
judge that the leading women in the various so-called
"secret" societies are equally well infoi'iiied with the men.

PREFACE V

Of course lapses of memory occur, chiefly in connection
with the florii, and this is not surprising considering^ the
hundreds of plants that go to make up the forest. These
lapses, as well as dialectic differences, frequently lead to
quite heated arguments as to the correct name for some-
thing ; and the various parties seem usually to fail to convince
each other

As to tlie identiiicatiou of plant life, it is always l)y the
leaf, if a blende is shown a flower and is asked the name
of the plant, he will invariably demand the leaf before he
will name it. This is not unreasonable when it is recalled
that the leaf is with them all the year round, for very few
trees are deciduous, while the flower is only with them for
a biief period, and the fruit for scai-cely longer.

Notes have been added to the descriptions, giving any
uses or myths that have come to the author's notice, but he
must state that he has not invariabl}' tested their accuracy
by practical demonstration.

F. W. H. MIGEOD,
Traniiport Ojficer,

Gold Coast Colony.

September 11)12.

IJNGUISTIO NOTES

The alplial)et adopted is that of the Royal ( ieograpliical
Society, with the following few additions : —

h = ng, as in " singer," not as in " finger."

o = the ordinary English "o" as in the words — toe,

though, sew, so.
() = " aw," as in " saw."
ri = an "o" wavering between " o" and " u," and

varying often from one to the other if any

addition is made to the word.
Xasali.sed vowels are marked —.

All names are given in two forms.

The first is the indefinite and simple form of the noun ;
the second, in brackets, the definite form.

The second is the form the native invariably uses if he
says the name of the thing without any additional words.

The indefinite form is only used when another noun
follows it, forming a compound noun ; or when an adjective
follows it. If the student uses it alone he will not be
understood.

In answer to a que.stion as to the name of a thing, it is
the definite form that alone is used.

The cause of the change is the addition of a pronominal
root, " i," which modifies the final vowel of the word in a
variety of ways depending on its strength or tone. The
following aie examples : —

oi = "oi," each vowel is almost, but not quite, pro-
nounced separately, and the "i" in some
words becomes nearly " e."

oi = "oy " in "boy."

ui = either long " i " (i), or almost " wi." For instance,
" wuloi," small, is pronounced commonly
" wuli."

ai = usually " e," as in "mesh."

ai = " ai," as in " high," " my."

viii NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

In the definite form the accent is always moved to the end
of the word ; as

nika, a cow ; nikei, the cow.

After the double consonants " kp," " gb," a " w " is commonly
heard before "i" and " e," but it is comparatively rare to
hear it before the other vowels.

Initial consonants are liable to many phonetic changes,
as, "t" into "1"; " ng " into "w" or "y" or "g"; "p"
into " w " ; " mb " into " w " ; " Nd " into " 1," &c.

Some words, such as names of small insects usually seen
in large numbers, are more commonly met with in the
plural. The indefinite plural termination is "-nga" added
to the indefinite form singular, and the definite termination
is " -sia " joined to the definite form singular. The latter
is the more commonly used.

There are other plurals, but they do not need to be
mentioned here.

Many names of plants are compound words. The following
words are commonly found in their composition : —

La (lai) or nda (ndai) . Leaf. Usually compounded in the

name of a herb, or occasionally

a shrub. Never with a tree.

It emphasises that the leaf is

, the principal part.

Tifa (tife) or lifa (life) . Shrub, plant.

Ngeyako (ngeyakoi) . Runner, creeper.

Further,

Ngulu (ngului), nguru \ rn ,
I '^•\ ^' i iree.

(ngurui) j

Powe (powe) .... Flower. It is not used quite in the

English sense of flowers :is
apart from the plant.

Ngu (ngui) .... Fruit. Lit. Head.

Ku (kui) Buttress of a big tree, or wing of a

capsule.

Kolo (kole) .... Bark. (Also skin, paper.)

Hape (hapei) .... Root.

Nja (ujei) Sap. Lit. Water.

YOCAIU LAKY

ANIMALS

Binda (binde)

Hagbe - wulri (hagbe-

wului)
Heke (liekei) ....

Kpema (kpeme) .

Ndopa (ndgpe) . . .

Ngiito (ngotoi or ngnti)

Ngulu (nguli)

Sandi-lopa (.sandi-lope) .

Tewu (tewui) ....
Tewe (tewei) ....
Tnwa-wulu (tnwa-wulni)

Antelopes

Zebra aijitelope (Cephalophus donae).
A very small antelope (? Neo-

tra<jtts sj).).
Bush cow, almost black, with spiral

horns. ? Eland.
Water- chevrotain {^Dorfatherium

aquaticum).
The harnessed antelope (T^'a^e^opAz^

srripfug).
Also a general name for antelope.
An antelope with twisted horns ;

brown with white stripes.

Applied to the Bongo trage-

laph. {Boocerciis euryreros.)
Also the Water-buck, with long,

curved horns [Colms sp.).
Hartebeest {Buhalis major).
Some Mendes seem to mix Ngoti

and Nguli, as regards Harte-

bee.st.
An antelope with long horns; bigger

than the Harnessed antelope.

Three white bands, one at

neck, one at loins, and one

between the two. (From de-
scription.)
Bush-cow ; a buffalo {Buhahis sj).).
" Bush-goat."
Duiker. In Sierra Leone English

Filantomba. {^Cephalophui< sj).)

TO NATURAI. HISTORY VOCABULARY

Kwala (kwalai), or
Kwara (kwarai),
or Kwa (kwai)

Bamf) (bamni)

Gbegi (gbegi) . . .

Kalo (kaliii) . . . .

Konjo (konjo)

Ngoru (ngoroi)
Nguwa (nguwe) .

Ndogl)o-yusn (ndogb(_
ynsni)

Tuwa (tmve) .

Monkeys

I Any monkev, not otherwise speci-
j fied.

Baboon.

Gorilla (Scli.).

A large monkey.

A fabnlons anthropoid inhal)itant

of the forest.
Query a gorilla.
A monkey with yellowish back and

whitish belly.
Ape ; chimpanzee (Simia froiflo-

<hjte.).
A monkey with the upper and

outer parts black, the inner

parts red (Sch.).
A fabulous anthropoid inhalntant

of the forest with magical

powers.
Big. black monkey with long tail.

Gone (gonei) .

Lulu (Inlui) . . .
Manyale (manyalei)
Kendawi (kendawi)
Koli (k.jli) ....
Koli gole (Koli gole)
Kowulo (kowului), or

Kewuln (kewuloi)
Moni (moni) .
Njala (njale) . . _ .
Nyangbe (nyangbei)

rygL> (PL'gyi) • •

Cats

The common domestic cat.

Ditto.

Ditto.
xV cat (Sch.).
A leopard.
The white leopard.

> The Serval cat [Felts sercal).

An animal of the cat kind.

Lion.

The golden cat. A big wild cat,
very savage. (Fe/is ceJido-
(jasfcr or Fe/is aurata.)

A species of wild cat larger than
Nyangbe.

NATURAL niSTOUV VOCAIU'LAIIV 11

Hiivi (bi)vi)
Kaikulu (kai

kulni)

Kponde (kpondei)

Ngela (ngelai)
Xgualu (ngualii) .
Sese (sesei)

Note. — Ngualii, iJijvi,

Squirrels

A l)ro%vii squirrel.

Also called Ngelai. (Iround squir-
rel. Brown with a white stripe
along its sides : lough greyish
tail. Eats gi'ound nuts.

A squirrel ; said to have a bigger
liead than Sese.

See Kaikului.

A squirrel.

A squirrel. (Not to be mixed up
with Chiji and Seje, which see.)

Kaikulrd, and Sesei are said to

be all nearly alike, but Kpondei is bigger.

Chiji (chiji), or Siji . .

F.jba (fobai) ....

Vnlo (v(.le) ....
Fulu-gbete (fnln-gbetei)

Gowulo (gnwulni)

Lende (lendi)
Kiwulo (kiwului), or
Kuwulo (kuwuloi)

Nyina (nyine) . . .
Sewulo (sewuloi)

Tondo (tondoi)
Tuli (tuli) . .

Rats, &c.

A mouse, light yrev colour with

fluffy tail.
A small brown rat witli a black

stripe down its spine.
A large rat with very dark hair.
A rat, 6 inches long, with white

stripes down its sides. Lives in

the bush, and may be commonly

seen bolting across the path.
A brown rat, 6 inches long, no

marks.
Mouse.
" Ground pig." A giant rat that

burrows in the ground. ]NLich

esteemed for eating.
Rat. The common house rat.
Ground i-at OYOctodowtiThrijnumys).

Brown ; grows to the size of a

small rabbit.
Common large house rat.
A rat of sorts, brown, with long nose

and strong odour (? Batliyer-

gidae).

12 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Bats

Dava (clave) .... Small bat.
Ndeve (ndevei) . . . Small bat.

Taja (taje) Medium sized bat. Inhabits fan-
palms.
Tuka (tnke) .... \Mvr bat.

Pig, &c.

Ndonde (ndonde) . . Pig.

Hele (lielei) .... Elephant.

Nja-hele (nja-helei) . Hippopotamus.
Mali (mali)' .... Ditto.

Dog, &c.

ISTgila (ngilei) . . . Dog.
Kovvi (kowi) . . . . ? Jackal.
Subu (subui) .... Hyena.

Domestic Animals

Nika (nikei) .... Cow generally.
jS'ika-hina (nika-hinei) Bull.
Nika-ha (nika-hei) . . Cow.

Note. — Hinei = male, and Hei = female, are added to
the names of all animals to express sex.

Toha(n)i (toha(n)isia, { ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^.^^^

plu.) )

Mbala (mbalei) . . . Sheep.

Nje (njei) (Joat.

So (sui) Horse.

Geloba (gelobai) . . . Camel ; a Fula woid.

Unclassified

Kainya (kainye) . . Ant-eater (Mams frirusj)iff).
Kimba (kimbe) . . . Giant ant-eater {Ma7iis gigantea).

NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY L3

Nuni (iiuni)

Ndanda-kuld (ndanda-

kiilui)
Ha^ijbe (hagbei) .
Pekulu (pekuli) . . ,

Pewe (pewi) .
Cbuln (^iibuli)

Piwi (piwi)
Seje (sejei) .

Jiinibu (jiiinl)vii)

Hua (huei)

A water animal, said to eat fish
and crabs. Jiurrows into river
bank. Its cry is " lioom-booin-
boom."

> ? Mon^joose.

? Weasel.

" Bush cat." An animal the size
of a rabbit ; dark brown, and
mouth set underneath. Climbs
oil palm-trees for the nuts, and
? burrows in the ground.

" Bush cat." The palm civet, or
two spotted paradoxure {.\un-
dinia).

"Tree bear." A hyrax. Calls at
night as it climbs a ti-ee, with
an increasingly slnill note.
Pointed nose ; short toes ; dark
brown ; size of a rabbit. It
has a gland in the middle of
its back covered with white
hair, which parts and closes.
{Proravia dor^alis.)

Porcupine (HystrLr crisfata).

Said to be something like a Piwi,
but smaller. ? A hedge-hog.

A small fabulous animal celebrated
for its magic medicinal power.
Its bones ai'e used for amulets
(Sch.).

Any animal. Plural, Hiaangesia =
animals in gfeneral.

Nwoni (nwoni)
Te (tei) ....
Te hina (te hinei)
Te ha (te hei) . .
Te lo (te loi) . .

BIRDS

Bird.

Common fowl.

Cock.

Hen.

Chicken.

14 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Lolo (loloi) .... Duck.
Dowi (dowi) .... Duck.
Tolotolo (tolotolni) . . Turkey.

Bombo (boml)()i) . .

Gere (geri) ....
Ndogbo-gere (ndoglx)-

geri)

Nja-gere (nja-geii) .

Hewe (hewe) ....
Kuanja (kuauje) .

Kokogbia (kokogbiei) .
Knwo and Kuwe (knwei)

Sekpende (sekpeude)
Hekuln (sekuli)

Yiba or Jilja (vibe or
jibe)

Hawks, &c.

A brown eagle, inclining to grey in

pai'ts {Hnliarius corifer).
A brown hawk.
The " l)ush-geri." Like the (!eri,

but lai'ger.
The " water-geri." Bi'own tish-

hawk. tSome say same as

Boniboi.
Same as ? (leri or ? Nja-geri.
Same as Nja-geri, but said to have

diffei'ent claws.
Same as Bomboi.
Big black-and-white fish- eagle.

(? Gypoliiero.r.)
Lai'ge gi'ey hawk.
Small speckled hawk. Catches

small birds. A kestrel.

Vultiu-e.

Bani (bani) ....

Bongboto (bong])otr)i) .
Hohn (hohui) ....

Water-birds

White wading bird, smaller than
Yonembe. Name doubtfid.

Pelican.

The blackish coi'moi'ant {Phalacro-
rora.r rarhd). Also, the Pigmy
Goose (Netfopus auriJiis). Size
of a big pigeon. Body like
a diick's ; bi'east white with
thick plumage; back greenish;
tlu'oat l)i'own ; feet webbed and
black ; beak shoit, hooked, yel-
low with black ti[).

NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY 15

Kakibo (kak.il)oi) . . Many - colourcil kiii<.'iislicr. Lil.

Hank l)iu rower. {^ Alriilo tjwn-
tlieri.)
Tliis name is also apparently j^iven
to a "greenish bird abont the
size of a, sparrow, not a water-
bird.

Kekt'le (kt'kt'lc) . . . Hnippet. A small <i;reyish wadinj;

bird. The smallest of the
waders.

Kiniji (kinfji) .... (Irey wading bird, about a foot in

lenoth, or more. Beak yellow
with black on top.

Nja-nwoni (nja-nwoui) . Water-bird. Applied to cormorants

and any other not special!}'
distinguished w;iter-bird.

Nja-koku (nja-kokui) . (Irey water-l)ird, larger than a

pigeon.

Nyegbe-solf) (nyegbe- I c . n • t_ i

•' '^ .,...■ ■ V - <= > hmall greyish-ifreen heron.

Solol) ) O J !r>

Sanga (sange) . . . Black-and-white kingfisher (? CeryJe

maxima).

Solo-wa (snlo-wai) . . The same as Nyegbesoloi.

Teve-nwoni(teve-nwoni) 8tork, black with white neck. About

four feet in length. (Dissura
ejjiscojnis.)

Toni (toni) .... Plover {^Cliarailridae — % Xipliidop-

terus albicep>i).

Tutu (tutui) .... Leaf-walker. Length over a foot.

Brown, and white throat. Beak
I inch, bluish, continued as a
horny forehead. Legs long,
with very long toes. [Ph>jU()-
])exus afi 'lean m.s. )

Yonembe (yonembe) . (ueat white heron. The egret.

Length 4 feet, or more. Plumes
obtained from its back. [Ardra
alha.)
Also, the smaller reddish-white
egret, which also has plumes
(^ Diclirumanasf^a ru/a).

16 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Bomo (bomui)
Bomo-kulo (bomo-kului)
Powo (powui, or powi) .

Povovf) (povovni)

Doves, &c.

Small dove, some all brown, some
with white l)reast.

Lit. Small -bomoi. Small brown
ground-dove.

Big brown ring-dove. Usually seen
sitting in full view on bare
branches, the highest possible.
{Turtur semi-toiyuatus.)

Green pigeon. Always hide them-
selves in thickest part of trees.
Found in interior and in man-
groves on coast. [Vinago
ralra.)

Bush Fowl, etc.

Fokulo (fokului) .
Hoke (hokei) ....
Kete (keti) ....
Kokolowe (kokolowei)

? also kowedowe
Kokoye (kokoyei)

Sasalo (sasaloi)

Quail. Small, brown. (S//?ioecus cj'-)
Guinea fowl {Aijelastea).
Guinea fowl (Sch.).

Like the Sasaloi. Calls at night.

Bush fowl. A francolin. Calls by

day. Name derived from its
call. Brownish.

Red legged partridge. Greyish,

mottled. Calls at evening
and at night. Name derived
from its call.

Parrots

Fabo (fabni) .... Parrot.
Fawu-gbekpe (fawu- I ^ ,

gbekpi) i ^''y P^^^'^'°^-

Gbegbe (gbegbi) . . . Parrot.

Note, — Fawu-gbekpe is a combination of fabo
and gbegbe.

NATl^RAL HISTORY VOCABl'LARV

17

Gulii (^aile)

Kpulo (kpuloi)
Kwabuma (kwabunie)

Piangbia (piangbie)

HORNBILLS

? Toucan. A reputed two-beadeil
bird from a hoiny growtb on
the top of its head. Size of a
crow. Blackish with long tail.
{Ceratoijyinna at rata.)

A kind of hornbill (Sch.).

White crested hornbill or "Monkey
bird " (Orfho/ophn.< leurolo-
phux).

The common hornbill. A black
bird with white breast and
very thin bod}'. Very en-
larged beak as with all the
hornbills. (LopJioreros vielarw-
leiu:u!i.)

Weaver Birds (Ploceidae)

Mbaku (mliakui . . . Weaver bird.

Ndogbo-baku (ndog- A weaver bird which builds its
bobakui) nest on palm trees. Nests

hang down to a length of 3
feet. Black with red slashes.
The weaver bird which builds
spherical nests on young man-
groves overhanging the water,
or on oil palm trees. Brown
and black. Eggs brownish,
blue and green weaver bird.
Called also Sele.
Dea (deai) A weaver bird.

Konu-baku (konu-1>a-
kui)

Ta-baku (ta-bakui) . The

Ddabn (ndabni)

jreenish bird. ^V eaves a nest
on grass or on a shrub. Nest
is a bag which closes with a
leaf sewn on, just allowing
space for the bird to pass in.

Egffs

to five

Sele (selei) or Jele

"ofe" "^P to nve in
blue mottled with brown
Same as Ta-bakui.

number.

18 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Unclassified

Bondn (bondni) . . . Smaller than a sparrow. Many-

hued green, and sharp pro-
jecting beak.

Bovo-nwoni (bovo- j g^^^^j ^j^^^^, ^^j^.^

nwoni) j

Bundo-sokele (bundo- I .< n u- j • a „i -. ^„ t^^^.
, ,.- ^ > Small bu'ds m nocks on larms.

sokeli) )

Diadia (diadie) ... A small rice-eating bird. Black

with brilliant scarlet neck.
Gbofeo A small bird with a single note

call. A legend pertains to it.

According to Schoen (Vocab.),

supposed to utter the voice of

spirits.
Goma (gome) .... Black and white crow {Corrii^

xrcqnilafus).
Goro-nwoni (goro- A black bird larger than a spar-
nwoni) row. They are said to live

in flocks.
Guwa (guwai) .... The " clock bird." Green, red

under its wings. Crested.

Has a call like a harsh

" gaw." See also Njopo-gbulei.

(? Turaco sp.)
Jangabina (jangabine) . Ostrich.
Jeme (jemei) .... A honey sucker. About size of

sparrow. Many-hued green.

[Necfarim'uJae.)

Jonga (j<mge) .... A kind of long-legged bush fowl.

Jengbe-kuld (ienglie- ) ,r • i • i

»,..,• ^•' *' llummmg-mrd.

kuloi) ) '^

Jowi (jowi) .... See yowi.

Kegewe (kegewei) . . " Witch-bird." Said to be as big

as a parrot. Calls at evening.

The fable is that children are

changed into it.
Kobule (kobijlei) ... A kind of fowl with very short

legs (Sch.).

NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY 19

Kpa-ndeve (kpu-mlevo) ) c^^^,.^,i^,^^.
or Kpa-dove j '

Kpopo-manja (kpopo- ( Wood-pecker (Pirv/ae).
manje) J

Note. — In some dialects of Mandingo " manja " or
" mansa " is the word for "king."

Kpoyo-nwoni (kpuyo- A yellow bird slightly larger than
nwoni) a sparrow, mottled with darker

hues and with dark spots. Lif.

the " cowry-bird," pi-obably on

account of the dark patch on

the otherwise white cowry

shell.
Kpwi (kpwi) .... A purple-brown bird that flies like

a dove.
Mbalu (mbalui) ... A black bird with a yellow band

on the back of neck, .size of a

sparrow.
Pangba-mbalo (pan- Another name, l)ut apparently not
gba-mbalni) well known.

Mabweji (mabweji) . . Another name for Mbalni.

]\^ote. — There was considerable difficulty to get a generally
approved name foi' this bird.

Mbu (mbui) .... Owl.

]\Iemb() (membni) or A tiny bird with red breast and

Membui neck.

Ndnine (ndnine) ... A many-hued bird said to say, " Ye

mia T' i.e. Who is it?
Ndikpwa-bwa(ndikpwa- " Broad -mouthed roller" [Eurij-
l)wai) ^foiini!< afer). A brown bird,

size small dove, yellow beak,

blue underbody.
Ndulii (nduli) .... A lirown bird with white breast,

size of a grey parrot. Has a,

mournful cry. 8aid to kill

snakes.
Njupo-gbule (njopo- "Clock-bird." Green all over and
gl)ulei). also under its wings. Thisnnd

Giiwai are sometimes mixed.

20 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

SiiTune ....
Sikonde (sikonde)
Sokele (sokeli)

Sokele-gulu (sokele- |
gului ^ j

Sokele-maiija (sokele-
manje)

Tindo (tindoi)

Tnlo-kenge (tolo-kenge)
Yegbe (yegbei) .

Yoru (yoiui) . . .
Yovn (yovui) .

Yowi (yowi), also jowi

A mythical bird up a moimtaiii in
Mende country. Very big.

A small bird having a varied plum-
age and pleasing song (Sch.).

Tiny birds. Many always seen
together. Query a name ap-
plied to any small birds in a
flock. See Bundo-sokele.

A flock of Sokeli.

A small black and white bird
(male), a fly catcher, with a
tail nearly a foot long in the
breeding season. The female
is brown, and is (query) called
" sokeli " only. [Mtiscicajndae
— TerpsipTione.)

A small bird with a slate-coloured
head, from description.

Water-wag-tail [MofaciUidae).

" Night-jar." Bird size of a dove,
mottled brown. Sits on the
ground at dusk, and does not
move till almost trodden on.
See Yowi. [Caprimulfjiis sp.)

A small pretty bird, pointed beak,
many-coloured.

" Pepper l)ird." Like a span-ow
in appeai'auce. Eats peppers
(capsicums). (? Py<:nonotu>f har-
hafus.)

Same as Yegbe.

NATURAL IIISTORV VOCAIUTLARV 521

REPTILES, &c.
Snakes

Kali (kali) Snake ,<fenerally.

Fowa-ngeyaknina (fowa- A small snake with bi<f head, llearl
ngeyakome) bright green. Upper p;irt

body green with bluish-black
bars. Rest of ))ody an un-
certain green. Very long tail.
( Thelolornis kirflandi.)

Gooko (gookoi) . . . Small fat snake, grey with brownisli

bars. Bite may kill in twenty-
four hours. {Dipsaf/omorphuti
ptdrej'ulenfu^.)

(luru (gurui) or Gni-n J^lack cobra, grows up to 6 feet.

(gurni) Has whitish-red discoloration

on throat. Very deadly.

{Nam ni(jnc(jUis and vielano-

/I'lira.)

Kenji-guli (kenji-guli) . Tree col)ra. Poisonous. Grows up

to 6 feet. Green, and towards
tail green and brown. So
called from its likeness to
" kenji," the seed cone of the
Eqfia vinifera. {Dendraspdx
ciridis.)

Kpiti-bfimbo (kpiti- />//." Grass-bnmboi." Some green-
bomboi) or kpiti- ish on back, some blackish-

hu-l)r)mbni l)lue. (irows up to 3 feet.

Under this name are classed
Lycophidium fascAatum, Boodon
lineatus, and Simocephalus
poensis.

Kuli (kuli) .... A greyish-green mottled snake up

to 6 feet. [Dipmdomorplinx
hlandinyi.)

]\laha-gali (maha-gali) . lAI. " King-snake." Saiil to grow

3 feet, thick as a man's arm.
Harmless. Eats ants. Like

22 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Ndawumlo-gali (nda-
wundo-gali)

a puflf-adder in appearance.
(From description.)

Small bluish-green snake, barks
like a little frog. {Gldorophis
heterolepidofus.) Also query
any green snake.
Ndovo-pole (ndovo-pole) Lit. Toad-swallower. A thickish

snake up to 2 feet. Slightly
poisonous. Brownish - grey
with black marks. {Causus
rliomheafus.)
thin faintly-striped brownish
snake up to 3 feet. Identified
as Boodon lineahis and Ghloro-
jiliis irregiolaris. Lit. " Fallow-
farm Kuli."

Python or other constrictors.

A snake of dark colour, like Gurui.
Poisonous. (From description.)

LH. Water- Gurui. Water -cobra,
like Gurui.

Puff-adder. Applied to both Bitis
nasirornis and Bitu gabonica.

Njijpo-guli (njnpo-guli) A

Ndili (ndili) . . .
Ngu-volo (ngu-voloi)

Nja-wuru (nja-wurui)

Tu})u (tupui) .

Kogo-nje (kogo-njei)

Kolo (koli)
Kpeni (kpeni)

Ndainba (ndambe) .
Ndokulo (ndokuli, or

ndokui)
Njaka (njake) . . .

Lizards, Arc.

Lit. Mother of ants. The slow-
worm. Said to have a head
at each end, owing prob:ibly to
both ends being the same shape.

A lizard, female of Njake, greenish.

Flat-bodied, striped and speckled
lizard. Natives always kill
them, saying they are poison-
ous. (? Lygomma fernandi .)

Crocodile of any species.

Chameleon. Eggs white. {Chame-
leon ttp.).

Red-headed lizard. Njake is said
to be the male and Koli the
female. {.Agama cnlonorum.)

NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

23

Pania (parne) . .

Banasowe (banasowe)

(ibasonde (ifbasonde)
Jibele (jibele)
Kpe<,'1)e (kpegbi)
Kputu (kputui) .
NdovA (ndovoi) .

llaku (hakui)

Nja-vele (Nja-vele)
Niraku (iiijakui) .
Jekende (Jekende) .
Nwoiii (nwoni)
Kemi (kemi) .

Botn (bntm) . . . .

JJuani (buani)

Folema (foleme) .

Gbele (fjbele), or Bugi-
buwi

(Tbende (i,d)endei)
Hala (haie) . .

Jara (jare) . .
Jengbi (jengbi) .
Jowa (jowe)

Monitor, commonly called iguana.
( Varamis nilotir.us).

Frocs, itc.
A flesli-coloured climbini; froj'

[Hijla arborea).
(5reen tree frog ; also grey.
Bull-frog.
Frog.
Tadpole.
Toad.

TOHTOISE, kc.

Tortoise. Also sometimes applied

to turtle.
Turtle.
Cral).

A small red crab.
Oyster. Nvvoni-gei = oyster shell.
A bivalve (Sch.).

Fisn

Something like Kondoi. Calls with
a loud click.

In fresh water. Comes out to eat
grass. ? Manatee.

Fresh water. Very small. Swim
in shoals.

A sea-fish, about two feet, with
streamers from its mouth. Lies
square on its stomach. Big
mouth. (Fantis call it Kokote.)

A very small fish in swamps.

Fresh and salt water. An eel-
shaped fish, with l)ig head.

A fish (Sch.).

Garfish (^Srornhresocidae).

An eel -shaped fish, supposed to
control the quantity of water
in certain places, and hence is
worshipped (Sch.).

24 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Kata (katei) .... A kind of very large cat-fish.
Kole-nye (Kole-nyei) . Fresh water. A very big scaly fish,

called in Sierra Leone English

" kute."
Kolo-nye (knlo-nyei) . An eel -shaped fish with jointed

shell (Sch.).
Kondo (kondui) . . . Small fish in mangrove swamps.

Jnmps and climbs trees. Swims

with its head out of water.

[Periophfhahnus.)
Kpelo (kpeloi) . . . A biggish fish with numerous spines

round its neck. Al)out a foot

and half long.

Kpikpi (kpikpi) . . . Electric fish ; 2| feet long.

Nye (nyei) .... Fish generally.

La-nye (La -nyei), or ) ,-, , , a c t. \

:K • h r resh water ; 4 feet louir.

Da-nyei j '^

Makondo (makonde) . A fish like Hale ; 9 inches long.

Mbnla (mbnle) . . . Big sea-fish ; 3 feet long ; very big

head.
Ndegbe (ndegbei) . . A large cat-fish. Like Hale ; 3 feet

long.
Ngoka (ngoke) . . . Fresh water. A fish called in Sierra

Leone English " Mangrove

page." Biggei* than Gbende.
Pele (pelei) .... Fresh water. A fish, white in

colour ; 6 inches long.
Pepe (pepi) .... A shrimp.
Poll (pOli) Herrings, or other fish which are

usually smoked and dried. In

Siei'ra Leone English " Bonge."
Tombo (tomboi) . . . Mullet (Sch.).
Tumu (tumui) . . . Shark.
Tupu-nye (tupu-nyei) . A fish resembling Tupui, the puff-

adtler. About a foot and a

half long.
Vulu (vului) .... A fish (Sch.).

NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

25

Fu-hani (fii-haiii, or fu-

hai)
(;i)ali (i,^l)ali) . . . ,

Falo (falesia, pi.)

Fuli (fuli)

Gili (gilisia, pi.) .
(xDWn-pupu (gown-pupu-

isia)
Knwo (kovvuisia) .
Kpaina (kpaiiie) .

Ndnwo (doiigesia)

INIbombolo (mbomboli) .
Ndo-gowo (ndo - gowo-

isia)
Ngelemahviisia
Pupu (pupuisia) .

Note. — Ants are usually
Definite pi

INSECTS

Ants

Lit. Living thing. Insect gener-
ally. Ants.

Big black ant, winged. Comes to
tlie lamp at night.

Red ant. Makes its nest in leaves
folded. Very painful sting.
See Ndowo.

Brown ant, winged. Comes out
after rain and drops its wings.

White ants, i.e. termites.

Big aiits, head and tail l)lack,
middle section brown.

Driving ants, blackish [Anomina).

The big black stinking ant {Palto-
thyreus pestilentius).

Red ants that build a house of
leaves joined together. They
sting. Some Mendes confuse
them with Falesia, and say
Falesia are black and Don-
gesia red ; others the reverse.

A black ant that stinks.

Reddish travelling ants. (Ndo =
underground.)

Small black travelling ants.

Very small ants, red. Also applied
generally to any small ants.

referred to in the plural number,
ural suflSx is " -sia."

Flies, Wasps, kc.

Ndi (ndingesia) . . . Flies generally. The house fly.
Fo (foi) A big'black biting fly. The " Man-
grove-fly " and "Tsetse."
Mamu-vo (mamu-V(ji) . " Mangrove-fly."

26 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Ndivo-vo (ndivo-Vdi)
Kalo(kaloi) . . .
Puje-vgfo (pvije-vgfoi)

Fundi (pimdisia)
Ndogbo-li (n(logi)O-li) .

Gumu (L'umuisia)
Dumbeka (dumbeke)

Kpakpadia (kpakpadie)
Mbele-lnkpe (mbele-

lukpei), or mbe-

hikpei
Nja-nenye (nja-nenye)

Komi (Komisia) .
Boboni (bnbuni) .

Dagba (daglie)
Higbo (bigl)oi)

Bongbo (bongboi)

Dnmba (dombe) .
Pewe (pewei) . .
Jimo (jimoi) . . .
Mniwulo (nioiwuloisia)

A fly that bores a hole in a tree.
It bites.

Large green or black flies. They
may also be called Fni.

An insect that flying into the eye
causes a smarting pain like
that of pepper (puje).

M()S(putoes.

Lit. Bush-fly. A very big fly, like
a house fly.

Sandflies ( Chironoviidae).

Firefly ( Diaphanes leucopijua — Mala-
roderviidae — Lamj^yridae).

Dragon-fly.

A mosquito-like fly with long legs.
Named from its swinging
motion.

A fly that buzzes in circles on the
water.

Bees.

A very small bee that makes a
hanging tunnel-entrance to its
house.

A very small bee {Melipuna,
? Trigona).

A very large black wasp. Msikes a
white hanging comb, often sus-
pended from a nail. [Sphegidae
— Eumenes or Pelopaeus.)

A mason wasp. Builds a mud-
house on a wall. Brownish
with a yellow stripe on the
side of the abdomen.

A wasp that burrows in the ground.

A mason wasp.

A small yellow wasp.

A'^ery small winged insects that
build a honey-combed house
on the Seme tree. An excre-
scence is formed, which is full
of cells.

NATURAL HISTORY VOCAUrLARY 27

Siln (siloi) . . .

Ka-silo (ka-silni)
Giji-lv (f.'iji-lvi) •

Jenji-lo (jenji-lni)
Jokondi (jokondi)

Spiders

Spitler (JleforopO'fa renaton'a — Ara-
neae) ; also spiders generally.

Spider. Often so named in stories.

Big yellow spider {Ncphila .•<}/. —
Araueae).

l>ig brown spider with a bad sting.

Ta r a n tul a ( Lyscoxa — A raneae) .

Jujunie (jujuiue)
Kimbo (kimboi) . .

jNIaneku (manekui) .
Kine-kine (kine-kine)

Jvondn (kondoi) .
Kongo-wetn (kongo-we-

tui)
Ndiinye (ndanye) . .

Papapfili (|)apapuli)
Petu (petui) .

Crickets, etc.

A blaekisli cricket, 1^ inch long,

with big thighs to hind legs.
A big cricket, .3 inches long. It is

eaten roasted. Perhaps male

sex only.
A large cricket, said to be the

female of Kimbni.
An ugly sort of insect, 1| incli

long, grey, with strong, jointed

antennae.
Locust. Destructive kind.
Grey striped locust, said not to be

hurtful.
A flying insect, body 1 inch long,

dark brown, ugly appearanc^e.

Big feet. Active. It is said

that if it bites a man's toe in

the grass, and the bite itches,

rain will come,
(irisshopper, or locust. xVll colours

of rainbow in a close pattern.
Grasshopper, or cricket, or locust.

Beetles

Bewe (bewe) .... A bright-coloured beetle that bur-
rows underground.
Bowi-V(jf(i (bowi-vofni) . A beetle that I'olls a ball of dung.

28 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Gondo-vnt'n (gon<lo-vu- A horned beetle in tlie ■' pambe "
foi) palm. Also a giant beetle,

black, with three horns.

Kpendi-bo (kpendi-bo) A giant beetle, up to 5 inches long,

black with white back. Not
horned.

Kine-kine (kine-kine) . A beetle, 1 inch long, green and

brown striped horizontally.
Antennae jointed, longer than
its head. Big head and power-
ful jaws. Said to bore into
trees to lay its eggs. Big feet.
Makes a chirruping. Compare
Kine-kine under Crickets.

Ndn-vofo (ndn-vi)foi) . A beetle, 1^ inch long. Long pro-
boscis. Black and brown.
Developed from " Mbawe."
Cooked and eaten.

Yao-vofo (yao-vof«ii) . A small scarlet insect, usually seen

running about on the ground in
large numbers together, often
under a cotton tree (bombax).

Grubs, Maggots

Boji-lm-guli (boji-hu- White maggot, 3 inches long, found
guli) in rotten wood. Said to turn

into " Kondo-wundoi."

Fuvulu (fuvului) . . . Wood-borer. A verj^ small insect.

Hokpo - gboli (hok[)o- A very big grey caterpillar with a
gbcjli) horn. Said to eat a man's

navel when he is asleep, hence
its name (hokpo = navel ; gboli
= suck, drink). It is power-
ful enough to give a spring
sideways, doubling itself for
the purpose.

Kpekpeli (kpekpeli) . Caterpillar.

Mbawe (mV)awe) . . . Big white grul) in oil paluis. Eaten

with rice. Said to develop
into " Ndovofoi."

NATURAL HISTORY VOCARULARY «9

Meme-tumbu (iiieine- A wliite gvub, 3 inches long, fouinl
tumbui) in rotten wood.

Pupunye (pupunyei) . A grey insect with l)ig body and

two horns on its head. Walks
backwiirds. Size about half-
inch long. Burrows in the
ground.
Also, the grub in a sheath, half-inch
long, that hangs on the walls
of a house.

Sowa (sijwai) .... A catei'pillar that makes a portable

house by gluing sticks and
leaves together. Black with
yellowish Ijars.

Cockroaches
Kpekpe (kpekpei) . . Cockroach.

Nja-gbekpe (nja-gbe- 1 .. Water-cockroach."
kpei) )

Ngoro (ugijroi) ... A kind of ? cockroach, small, green,

hairy.

Ticks, Leeches, &c.

.Tike (jike) Jigger. An insect that burrows

into a person's feet.

Kpavi (kpavi) . . . Flea or dog-louse.

Kpenirbe-yauwi(kpeni(- ^ . i_ i i c i.

^ ,'^ •' -s ^ ^ 'A bed-bug of sorts,
be-yauwi) J

!Mum<i-li (muni(j-li) . . Lice that infest domestic fowls.

Nyala (nyalai), or nya ) rn- i,

(nyai) /

Ngavi (ngavi) . . . Louse.

Th\n (tnlui) .... Leech.

Snails

Koh") (knlni, koli) . . Snail.
Konde (konde) . . . Snail.
Fafa-gonde (fafa-gonde) Intermediate sized snail.

30

NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Gbowo-gonde (gbowo- (Jiant snail. A great delicacy as

gonde) an article of food.

Jomoko (jomokoi) . . A small snail (Sch.).

A white moth 1 inch lone:.

Moths, Butterflies i

Any butterfly.
Any moth.

A dark greyish-brown moth 2 inches
long. Thick antennae.
Konde-wonde

wondi)
Kundo-wnndi

wundi)
Kondo-wundn
wundui)

Note. — Above three names may all possibly be the same, and
there may be something special in an insect's appearance
that causes this name to be given to insects so greatly
different ; or possibly they may be misnamed.

Kogonde (kogonde) .
Fufu (fufui or fufuihti)
Kunde (kundi)

(konde
(kundo

A big ? fly, many-coloured body,
black wings with yellow marks.

^ > A big metallic-coloured butterfly.

Cicadas

Senene (senene) . . . Cicada {Pyena limhnta).
Kpindi-lvwi (kpindi-(^^.^^^^^

l(lWl) j

Ndondn (ndondni) .

Ndondo-lengesia . .

Konu-ngu (konu-ngui)
Kalondo (kalondoi) .

Centipedes, ifcc.

. Millipede. Grows to about 6 inches

long. Harmless. (Jiilus sp. —

Chiluynatha).
. The young of the above. They may

be met in the road crowded

together in dozens.
Centipede. Stings. (

Syngnatha).
A flat centipede, different from

the stinging one. Shorter

and broader. (

Syniinatha).

NATUllAL HISTORY NOCAIU'LARV

31

Kekema (kekeme)

Leleme (leleme) .
Yenge-yange (yenge-

yange)
Gboli(gboli) . . . .

Unclassified

Scorpion, both the large black one
which grows up to 6 inches
long (Pan(fi!ius i)/i/>i/rafor), and
the smaller species.

The irreen mantis.

Dahihye (daiiihye)

Hita (hite) . .
Sini (sini) .

Dumbeka (dumbeke)

The big stick insect {Phaxmidae),

Any worm. Includes earth-worms
and body-worms as Guinea-
worm {Filaria medinensis).
(luinea-worm was until quite
recently unknown in Mende
country. Hence no distinctive
name.

A crawling insect said to burrow
horizontally below ground, and
to bite.

8ome kind of insects resembling
white ants. They are eaten.

A small insect that causes a skin
disease in appearance like
craw-craw.

A small insect like a lady-bird,
with transparent wing cases
overspreading the whole body.
Same name as that given to
the firefly.

Baga (bagai) or Baga-
wului

Bagyi (bagyi)

TREES

A medium-sized tree. Leaf heart-
shaped, 12x9 inches, brittle.
Sticks of this tree are used to
spin cotton on. Flowers in
cymes.

A big tree, used to make mox-tars
for pounding grain. Dyes
cloth reddish-yellow.

32

NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Belegafe (belegafe) .

Beli-mbaml)e (be li-
ra banibe)

Bobo (boboi)

Bombi (Ijomlii)

Bonga (lionyai)

Bomli (bondi)
Buna (l)une) .

Buwi (buwi)
Boni (boni)

B'j-wnhi (bo-Avuliii)

A

A tree (jMonrovia). Smooth oval
leaf 5x3 inches, with re^'ular
strong veins.

A tree (Kumasi). Leaf 6x11
inches, smooth, soft, ribs
alternate and even. Leaves
opposite.

rubber tree. Leaves 6 x 2|
inches, pointed oval, alternate.
{Funtumia elastica — Apocy-
naceae.)

Bofi (bofii) A tree. Leaves alternate, 3x1^

inches, smooth, thin. Flower
axillary, small, yellow, one
lobe developed. Fruit a cap-
sule |-inch diameter, orange
coloiu'. Splits in three, a seed
in each section. It is eaten.
Branch stripped and dried is
used as a torch. (? DoiJonaea
viscosa — Sapindai-eae.)

A tree. Leaves 7 x IJ inches,
smooth, hard, opposite. Fruit
a soft leathery pod, 5 x | x y ^^
inches.

A tree vised for the forked posts
for supporting the veranda of
a bush house.

A tree.

A forest tree with leaves 12x12
inches, heart-shiiped, partly
lobed and cleft. Fruit a ? fol-
licle, scarlet, edil)le, 6 inches
diameter, flesh )•, with about six
white seeds in central hollow.

A tree (Monrovia).

A sap tree with large fleshy leaves.
The juice is said to cure tooth-
ache.

The " l)ao1)iib '■ tree. Leaf palm-
ately parted, five Itwflets.

NATL KAL IIISTOJIY VOCAliULAllV ;33

Easily reco<jnised by enormous
trunk and thick branches.
Kruit whicli han<.(s sin>,dy Ijy
long strings is eaten. De-
ciduous. An open country
tree. (Adansoriia tlujitata.)

Dena (dene) . . . . ?A tree. See also under water-
plants.

Dewe (dewei) or Ndewe A tree. Leaves far apart, 3x3

inches, tender, jagged edge.
Thorns on trunk.
Dewe-hiiia (dewe- Lit. Male Dewe. A tree or shrub,
hinci) (Monrovia.) Five parted leaf,

6x6 inches.

l)ie(dii) A tree yielding sweet gum (Sell.).

Dumbele ((luml)el(') . . Lime and orange. See Saroi.

Dumbele-nyenye (dum- Lime tree. Limes rubbed on are
bele-nyenye) said to cure craw-craw, a skin

eruption.

Fa (fai) A tree (Kumasi). Compound oppo-
site leaves. Leaflets opposite,
1 X J inch, tender.

Fakali (fakali) ... A sap tree. The " Pawpaw."

Male and female. Very large
palmate leaves very deeply
cleft. Fruit size of a melon,
golden colour when ripe.
{Car lea papaya.) Fruit has
great digestive properties, and
tlie leaves are reputed to make
tough meat tender if packed
in them for a time.
Nyine-fakali (nyine- The pawpaw with pear-shaped fruit,
fakali) So called from a woman's

breasts.

Feve (fevei) .... A big tree (Monrovia). Leaf

1^ X 1| inches, stiflf, thin.

Fofowi (fofowi) ... A tree (Kumasi). Leaf 18 x 14

inches, strongly ribbed, stiff',
somewhat rough. Seven leaves
sprout from crest of leaf-stalk,
c

34

NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Fole (fole) .
Fare (fine)
Fulo (fuli) .

Gbende (gbende)

<^l39Ji (gK'Ji) . • • •
Gboiigbato (gbongbiitni)
Gboye (gboyei) . .

Gomba (gombe) .

(lonio (gomoi)

G o n w o (g o n w e) or

Gonwo-wai. [Lif.

Big-gonwo)

Guava (guave) . .

Heiulii (liendoi) .

Hege-gulu (hege-gului)

Fruit yellow, edible, big as a
man's fist. Looks like bread-
fruit.

A sort of ? ash tree.

A tree.

A big forest tree, exudes gum
(ndengbe). Leaf lob-sided,
very tendei', 4x3 inches or
more.

A big tree (Monrovia). Follicle
6x3 inches, seeds red with
black tip, not eaten.

Any plum tiee; hog-plum.

Sour orange tree.

A big tree. Leaves 9x3 inches,
alternate.

Tree used for forked posts in house
building.

A rul)ber tree,

A rubber ficus. Starts as a creeper
on a palm, and as it grows
crushes and kills it, standing
afterwards as a tree. Leaf
8 X 3J inches. (? Urticaceae).
Applied also to the banyan
tree (Gonwe). It seems to be
applied also to various Ficus
trees.

Guava. Leaf lance-shaped, 4 x 1|
inches, stiff, ribs strong on
back, does not lie fiat. Alter-
nate. Flower white, scented.
Fruit yellow, size of small
.ipple. Grows wild round
Sekondi. [PsiJium Guajava —
Myiiitreae).

A very hard redwood tree [LnjiJu'ra
procera). Called by Fantis
" Kaku."

Lit. Soap tree. Not a distinctive
name, Init applied to several

NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY J35

trees, some portion of which
may be utilised to make soap.
Hewe (hewe) .... A tree with .scented bark. Leaves

alternate, smooth, 5 x 1|
inches. Fruit pounded is
eaten as medicine " for the
belly."
Hole (hrile) .... A tree with juice used for catchinir

birds.
Jiawa (jiawai) ... A rubber tree. Like Bol)oi in ap-
pearance. [Funtumia africana
— Aporynacea''.)
Jnkn (jnkr.i) .... A tree with small feathery leaves

which are used to heal wounds.
Kafa (kafe) .... A tree (Conakry). Leaf oval, stiff,

3 inches. Red capsule with
five seeds each, black, orange
and yellow. The leaves in-
fused are said to cure tooth-
ache.

Kafa-wui Kafa-fruit.

Kafi (kati) A tree. Leaves stiff, obovate,

4i X 2J inches, opposite.

Berries reddish-yellow, | inch

diameter, in clusters with a

seed inside each. The seed

has a second covering. They

are eaten and taste like a

grape.

Kamama (kamame or The "sandpaper" tree. Leaves

Kamami) or Kag- alternate, but some at head

ami or Kami " opposite. Leaf 6x4 inches,

very rough, oval, but some on

same tree have a single deep

cleft on each side. Used for

polishing wood. Women are

said on some occasions to scrape

their breasts with them until

they bleed.

Kawo - wulu (Kawo- A tree for making trumpets which

wului) are called " kao-buli."

36

NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Kendu (kendui) .
KinJOTo (kinjurOi)

Koba (kobe) . .

Koba-ha (Koba-hei)
Kobo (koboi) ....

Kojaga (kojagei) or
Xguli (nguli)

Kowelege (kuwelege)

Kpakpa (kpakpei)

Kpato (kpati)i)

A tree bearing a hard-shelled fruit
like the cocoa-nut (Sch.).

A tree. Children make a plaything
of the ? hard fruit ? kernel,
which is strung on to a string.

A tree. Leaves 6 x 4i inches, stiff,
smooth in front, rough at back,
alternate. Fruit red, peachy,
2x2x1 inches, splits, hollow,
black seeds. Leaves infused,
put on a boil, draw it out.

Lit. Female-kobe. Leaf 11x7
inches, heart-shaped.

The gum-copal tree, and the gum
itself. (? Copaifera dinldagei —
Lef/uiiiinotiae.)

A big tree with very soft wood,
white. It is used for making
boxes for specie. Leaf pal-
mate, oval, 7x7 inches over
all. (? Triplochiton Johnaonii.)
Called by Fantis " waw-waw."

A tree (Kumasi and Monrovia).
White juice comes out of
stem. Leaves 10 x 2i inches,
whorled in fours, tender.
(? Ant ia lis toxicaria — Urti-
caceap.)

A tree that folds its leaves at night.
Leaf compound, abruptly pin-
nate, leaflets irregular oval,
about 2 x Ij inches. Com-
pound flower like half a ball
of fluff almost. Tree exudes
resin largely when bored into
by insects. The resin does
not harden. " Shade " tree
or " rain " tree.

A tree near streams. Leaves oval,
pointed, smooth, 3x2 inches.
Some opposite, others irregu-

NAXrHAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

37

Kpende (kpende)

Kondu (konilui)
Kiindi (kuiidi)

larly. Flower racemt', yellow,
in-egular, flattened sides, Mnch
diameter.

tree near streams. Leaves
opposite, 3x1^ inches, one
side larger than other, stiff.
Fruit like a walnut almost in
appearance.
Komi-gtde (komi-gnle) A tree. Leaf 2 x | inches, oval,

pointed. Young leaves crushed
loosen nasal mucus and clear
head.

A tree with attractive but worthless
fruits (Sch.).

A tree. Opposite leaves, 7 x 1|
inches, smooth on front. Fruit
has big seeds which are crushed
and boiled and used to kill lice
on the head ; also jiggers.

Also applied to the Cashew nut
tree.
Kuwi (kuwi) .... A tree. Leaves G x 3 inches, alter-
nate, pointed oval, smooth and
tender. This tree and Seme
are often not cut down when
they clear farms. They are
used for marks for each per-
son's allotment.

A tree (Kumasi). Leaves op-
posite, smooth and tender, u})
to 8 inches long. Young
leaves 2 x | inches are red.

See Tundui.

A tree with leaves growing in a
tuft from the trunk. Leaf is
like a stiff oil-palm leaf.
(? Dracaena sp. — LUiaceae.)

Lit. Ink-tree, an invented name.
Leaf compound, palmate. 5 or
more leaflets, each 8x3 inches,
oblanceolate. Leaf stalks op-

Kuwn (Kuwni)

Kwuye

Lelema-bule (lelema-
bule)

Luwa - wulii (luwu

wului) ...

38 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Mambo (mainboi) . . A

Moigbama (moigbame) .
Mbele (mbele) " . .

Mbeli (mbeli) .

Mbili (mbili) . . .
Mbundo (mbundoi) .

Mbundo (mbundni) .
Ndaha (ndahei) .

Ndaiida (iidande)

posite. Mohammedans make
ink of its leaves,
tree. Leaves mostly opposite,
smooth, stiff, perfect oval,
2 X 1| inches. Leaves grow
close to stalk. Soft nuts
f inch diameter, with velvety
shell, edible.

A tree. Leaf 6 x 1-| inches, stiff.

A big tree, the " sasswood." Com-
pound leaf, the leaflets very
small . {Eryth roph laeum guine-
ense — Leguminosae.)

A big forest tree with red oily
juice under bark, which dries
out like sealing-wax. Leaf
6x3 inches, opposite, smooth,
thin. (? Khaya sene<jah'nxis —
Meliareae.)

A big fore.st tree with sweet-scented
bark. - Leaf 5x1 inches,
smooth. {^ Boswellia kleinei or
Santiriopsis kleinei — .)

The camwood tree. Leaves alter-
nate, 4x2 inches, polished
surface. Small white flowers,
one lobe developed, yellow at
base of petals. Used to dye
Ndiivu fibre red. (JJaphia
7iitida — Le(jiuninosap.)

A tree used for making mortars
for pounding grain.

A fig tree. Leaves slightly rougher
than " Kobe," 6^ x 3 inches,
alternate. Fruit 1^ inches
diameter, hangs close to
branch, i-ed. The inner bark
is eaten as an astringent for
thirst, and the Hausas mix it
with kola-nut to chew.

A very hard wood tree. Trunk as

NATURAL HISTORY VOCARl^LARV

39

Xilawa (^udawai)
X (1 o g b (1 - (1 u ni b e 1 e
(u<logV)()-ilumbelo)

Xdiiku - wulu (iidijku-
wului)

Ndovo-te (ndovo-tei) . A

Xgengele-tumbe (ngeii-
gele-tumbi)

Ngomba (ngoinbe) .
Xgwrn-lolri (ngnro-lnlni )

Nguli (nguli) . .
Nguwn (nguw*") .

if a collection of vines. Fibrous
bark with unpleasant smell.
Bark used as a purge to kill
worms. Leaves, which shut
at night, Ij inches long, nar-
row, fringed. Long thorns on
the young shoots.

A species of plum tree (Sch.).

Lit. Bush-lime. hi appearance
like an ordinary lime tree, but
no scent to the leaves. Flower
like a white camel ia. Eleven
petals, scented.

A tree used for chew-stick (for
cleaning the teeth in the
morning). Leaves 3 x 1|
inches, smooth, oval, alternate.
Axillary buds. Fowers have
a strong odour,
tree with stiff leaf arrange-
ment.

A tree. Three whorled leaves, 5x2
inches, oval, smooth, stiff.
Fruit a five-valved capsule,
pink. Leaf is eaten with
" crincre " (Monrovia).

A tree. A medicine for coughs is
made of it.

A tree like the Kola (Sch.)

A big sap-wood tree. " Umbrella
tree." It grows up first in
forest cleai'ings. Leaves, about
a dozen crown the leaf stalk,
12 X 2 inches. {Musanga

S 01 if hit — .)

See Kijjaga.

Silk cotton tree irrespective of
species {Bomhar Buonopozense
and hrevicuspis, also Erio-
demiron anfraduusum — Mal-
vaceae).

40 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Titi

Yi-ndi .
Nikili (nikili)

Njawa (njawe)

Njenyani (njenyani)
Njeko (njekoi)

Nyille (nyale) ....
i!Tyaina-wa (nyama-wai)

N w o n i - \v u 1 o - j a k y
(nwoni-wulo-jakni)

The red cup-like flower of the
Bombax.

Tlie pollen-bearing stamens of Titi.

A tree (Kumasi). Leaves alter-
nate, 3x1 inches, smooth,
i-ibs uneven. Leaves sprout
axillary. Fruit yellow, ^ inch
diameter, hard, big seed in-
side.

A tree with berries pigeons eat.
Berries have a slightly acrid
smell. Query, only grows in
grass country.

Lit. Spoil-water. A tree with
bitter medicinal bark (Sch.).

A tree or shrub with climbing
branches. Leaf heart-shaped,
8 X 4J inches. Berries split
either into two or three, hang
from own stalk in clusters,
about \ inch diameter. Two
antennae J inch long project
from top of berry. Leaves
infused make a purge. Ber-
ries, very acid, eaten to cure
diarrhoea. Berries ])ounded in
hot water milke a black for
painting basins, ilrc. Leaf is
put on to cuts and wounds.
in Sierra Leone English called
" Christmas." [Alchornea cordi-
folia or ronJata — Euplior-
biaceae.)

X tree (^lonrovia). Leaf 8x3
inches, smooth.

A small tree. Leaf 2 inches,
oval, smooth. Scarlet pods in
bunches, seeds inside. Like
an acacia.

A tree. Leaf 1 x \ inch, smooth,
alternate. It is eaten on rice.

NATHRAL HISTORY VOCABULARY 41

Poma - magbf (poma-
magbe) . . . .

Po-ngulu (po-nguliii, tir
pongu'i)

Pu-hondo (])u-boiid()i) .

Saba-wulu (saba-wului
or saba-wui)

Saro (saroi) ....

Sema (seme) . . . .

Solikpo (solikpni)

Su-wulu (su-wului)

TijO (tijni)

Root used for a purge. ( N woi i i
= bird ; wulo = small.)

A tree (Knmasi). Leaves opposite,
6x2^ inches, rough. They
sprout at joints of the stem.

A tree with spatulate leaves, up
to a yard in length, opposite.
Stem is thorny.

A foreign tree or shrub. Leaf
pointed, ovate, up to 6 inches
long. Flower like wood-
anemone. Prickly capsule
containing seeds used to make
an orange dye which is called
Annatto. (Bira orellana —
Bixaceae). See JNlbundo. Lit.
European Mbundo.

A big tree. Leaf 6x2 inches,
tender, young leaves mauve-
red. Red flowers.

Orange tree and fruit. {Citrus
aurantimn — Rutaceae. )

A big tree. J3rums and mortars
for pounding grain are made of
it. Query the Odum [Cliluro-
phora exceUa) of the Fantis.
See note on Kuwi.

A tall umbrella tree in the forest.
Leaves 6x4 inches, rough,
strongly veined, ovate, oppo-
site ; branch axillary. Orna-
mental sticks are made of it.
The tree is made use of in
some way by the Sowisia of
the female society called
Bundu.

A soft tree, straight stem, branches
crowning the top. They make
a drum called " kele " of it.

A tree. Leaf 7x2 inches, smooth.
There are two species, called

42 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Tingo (tinei)
Tolo (toli)".

Toniba (tombe)

Tiiui-pot'o (tinii-pofoi) .

Towa - nyenye (towa-

nvenye)
Toya(toye) . . . .

Tundu (tundui) or
Kwuye (kwuyei)

Vaowu (vaowui) = ? Vao-
wulu (vao-wului)

Wonwa (wonwai)

Yokuma (yokume) .

Yungbi-yangbi (yungbi-
yangbi)

male and female. The male
is called Kongolo-lijni.

Mangrove.

"Kola" tree. Leaf 4x li inches,
oval, pointed. Fiuit green,
5 X 2| inches, rough. The
kola that is eaten is the seed,
which, four in number, lie in
a row inside. {Cola anmnnafa
— Sferculiareae.)

A tree. Leaf 2| x 1^ inches, oppo-
site, smooth. Small fruit on
the stem itself.

Another name for mambui, not
well known.

A tree used for forked house posts.
(Towa = forked post.)

A tree. Leaves 6x2 inches,
smooth, placed without order.
Fruit red, hangs close to stem,
like a small cherry in appear-
ance and taste, edible.

A tree. Leaf 8 x 2i inches, smooth,
no veins. Fruit- J inch dia-
meter, whitish, a follicle singly
on its own stalk. (? Cephaelis
peduncular is^Ruhiarrae).

A very big soft wood tree, trunk
like a cotton tree, deciduous.
Leaf oval, 4x3 inches, very
rough, ribbed.

A tree (Kumasi and Monrovia).
Leaves 8 x 24 inches, pointed
alternate.

Another name for Saba-wulu, which
see.

A tree. Leaf 9x6 inches, smooth,
oval ribs branch in pairs from
midrib. Fruit size of an apple,
rough skin. It is eaten. The
leaves bitter, make a purge.

NATrUAL HISTORY VOCABULARY 43

Tlie ^ root protluces aliortion.

(^ Enrojilialafes Jiarti'vi —

or 8arrori'p]iah(s esru/c))f".<^ —

Jhifnareru.)

Sim I us

Faiide-Wii (f;iu(le-\vai) . Cotton, stniw-colourcil (^Gosiiypiiim

sp. — Ma/ra'-eae).
Ndulu-fande (niliilii- Cotton, ri.'il-l)rown. (Nilulu —

fande) smoke.)

Kwantle (kwandi) . Cotton, white.
Fokulo - bafa (fnkuln - A shrub. Leaves alternate, 5x2^
bafai), or Fnkulo- inches, hmce-shaped, slightly

bafa - la (fokulo- lougli, will not lie flat. Veins

bafa-lai), or Fuku- clearly defined. Flowers in

bafa-la (fuku-bafa- umbels, white, five lobes,

lai) corolla ."i inches long, four

stamens li inch long, and
one pistil. Flower IJ inch
diameter.
Gbakunje (gbakunje) or A shrub with leaves 6x.4 inches
Xjepai. growing horizontally, opposite.

Bears a bean. Used as a
purge and for ringwoi'm.
Cibttinhu (gbnrohu) . . A shrub (Monrovia). Leaf crenate.
Gigbo (gigboi) ... A shrub bearing a red edible fruit

called " baking fire " in Sierra
Leone English.
Gimbu (gimbui) or A shrub. Leaves 2 x J inches,
(Jimbu-lufi (giml)u- lance shaped, tender, alternate,

lufi) Flower axillary in panicles J

inch diameter, like a daisy
somewhat. Leaf crushed cures
ringworm in the head, hence
called "ta-hale," i.e. "skull-
medicine." Also juice dropped
into eye when bad. Aromatic
scent to it. (? Compositae.)
Katata (katatei) ... A climbing shrub (Monrovia and

Sekondi). Leaves branch at

44

NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Kiitata-wa (katata-wai)

Kobowa (knbowe)
Kpindi-yali (kpindi-yali)

Kwandi

Kata-wulu (kata-wului)

Kumo (kumoi)

Kjala - murnu (iijala
mumiii

intervals in clusters. Leaf
rough, 3 inches long, deeply
veined. The stalks are rough
enough to cut the skin.

Lit. Big katata. A climbing shrub
or tree (Monrovia). Leaf
similar in appearance to the
foregoing, but much larger and
smoother.

Another name for Tejengbwe, but
rare.

A thorny shrub with long climbing
stems. Very troublesome in
fallows. Leaf alternate, 2 x H
inches, tender, retuse oval.
(^ Mimosa pigra — Leguminosac.)

See under Fande.

A shrub used for hedges, hence its
name (kata = hedge, fence).
Leaf ivy-shaped, 5x5 inches
about. Flower very small,
greenish inflorescence. Fruit
a capsule f inch, three black
seeds inside. In Sierra Leone
English " Pig - nuts," or
" Physic nuts." Seeds contain
much oil. (^Jatwpha curcas —
Eaj)1iorhiaceae.)

A shrub. Leaf lance-shaped, very
pointed, 5i x 2^ inches,
whorled. Flower a much-
branched cyme of minute
monopetalous white flowers,
with green calyx.

Lit. Little njala. A shrub. Leaf
compound, odd pinnate. Fruit
i inch seed vessel, many grow
vertically together like a bunch
of bananas. Flower tin}-,
monopetalous, irregular. The
shrub has a. pleasant smell

NATrUAL IIIS'l'ORV VOCAliULAUV 45

(Conakry). {Indujofera Suf-
fradifosa — Leijuminosac.)

Njalaihi (njalaihi) . . A shrub. Leaf rough and well

marked, 5x1 inches, usually
three together on a stalk.

Njepa (njepai) . . . See Gbakunje. Another name.

Pegbia (Pegbie) ... A shrub (.Seh.).

P(jpo-nda (popo-ndai) . A shrub. Leaf kidney-shaped,

7x6 inches, all veins radiate
from leaf stalk. Flower a
catkin, axillary. Fruit 2 x |^
inches, light green dotted.
Sevei'al stand up together from
one stalk. The leaf is highly
flavoured, and eagerly eaten
raw. It is also used in cookinir
fish.

Tejongbwe (tejengl)we) A shrub (Ashanti). Leaf 3| x 2

inches, hairy, opposite. Flower
white with red bracts. Bracts
2 X H inches. Five petals, red
centre, no scent. [Mussaenda
erythropTiylla — Ruhiaceae.)
Another variety has white
bracts. {Muf<gaenda Isertiana,
or I'onopli aningiifolia . )

Tifa (tife) 8hrub or plant in general.

Tuwa-wu-buye (tuwa- A shrub. Leaves almost opposite,
wu-buye) lance -shaped, 5x2 inches.

Leaf stalk with nodule.
Smooth, stiff. Fruit in a
huge cluster with no leaves
near. Four or five together
on own short stalk. No suture,
h inch diameter. One seed
inside, with a covering which
is sucked for the juice ; no
particular flavour.

46 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

PALMS, etc.

Tokpo (tokpoi) . . . Oil palm [Elais guineensis —

Pahnae).
Mawa (mawai) . . . An oil palm stripped of its branches

with age.
Kpogo (kpogni) . . . An oil palm with fronds growing

vertically instead of with a

spread.

Parts of the Oil Palm

Towu (towiii) or Tewu ) r^-i i

,.^ ■ -^ ' )■ Oil palm nut.

(tewui) ) ^

Tolu (tolui or toli) . . The kernel of the nut.

Nini (nini) .... The long flower stalks like a c.itkin.

{Lit. Breast.)
Nini-ha (nini-hei) . . Ditto. (Ha = female).
Tokpo-lu (tokpo-lui) . Palm wine, the fermented juice of

the tree.
Ngulo - gbou (ngulo- Red oil from the outer part of the

gboui) nut.

Dangulf) (danguloi) . . Kernel oil.
Tolu-wulo (tulu-wuloi) . Ditto.

Xduvu (nduvui) . . . The piasaba paliil {Rafia vinifera —

Pahnae). Produces fibre, palm
wine, and the large fronds are
much used for building pur-
poses.

Parts of Nduvui

Kaja (kaje) .... The fibre of the Nduvu fronds

called piassaba.
Kenji (kenji) .... The seed of the Nduvu. Like a

fir cone closed, 4x1 inches.

They say the toucan swallows

it whole.
Konu (konui) .... The frond or branch.

NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY 47

Njasa (njase) .... Thatch. The leaves of thi.s palm

are sewn together bent over
two sticks, and so make mats
2x1 feet or more, which are
laid on a roof like tiles. Njasa
is also applied to otlier thatch.

Kewe (kewe) .... Fan palm. Grows only in grass

land. Bears large golden
fruits in clustei's on a single
stalk. The stringy pericarp is
used as a thirst quencher. {^Bor-
ass7is flabeJliformis — Pahnae.)

Pu-lola (pu-lului) . . Lit. Whiteman's nut. Cocoa-nut

palm. (Cocos mirifera —
Pahnae.)

Kavu(kavui)or Kavulu A palm with very slender leaves
(kavului)i and stem. The frOnd ends in

a very long whip-like exten-
sion. [Calamus harteri —
Pahnae.)

Pamba (pambe) . . . Screw-pine. Grows usually in

swamps. {Pandamus randela-
hruin — Pandanareae.)

Semi (semi) .... Bamboo. Grows in swamps.

Called in Sierra Leone Eng-
lish a "cane." What is called
" Bamboo " in Sierra Leone is
the Xduvui. {^Damhusa vid-
(jaris — ).

Keni (keni) .... Bamboo. Corruption of " cane."

Keri (keri) .... A bastard date palm, with sharp

pointed leaves. Grows on edge
of brackish water. Used for
making mats. [Plioenix ie-
clinafa or PlioenLc spinosa —
P(dniae.) Not a pure Mende
word possil)ly.

48 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Climbing Pi-ants

Bowi (bowi) ....

Buli-yeyako (buli-
yeyakoi) or Tawa-
b e m b e (t a w a-
bembe) or Yoniba-
gbole (yoniba-gbole)

Dauwa (dauwe) .

Fori (fori) ....
Gbongeya (gbongeyei)

91 X 91

Leaf is
in the

Dawu (dawui)

Fokuln-bi (fokuln-bi) . xV

Hoke-yuwu (hoke-yuwi) A

A vine, ? rubber producing

A vine. Opposite leaves
inches on long stalk,
pounded and drunk
early morning " for the belly."
(Ngeyako = runner ; bembe =
encii'cle ; gbole = drink).

A very big vine. Leaves opposite,
3| X IJ inches, smooth. Leaf
stalk joins stem with a nodule.
Four-sided bean 5 inches long,
three big black seeds inside.
(? Duparquetia sp. — Legumin-
osae.)

A vine. The leaves crushed, put
into a pool, kill the fish. (In
Temne " putukulu.")
climber with a woody stem.
Leaf 4x2 inches, stiff, smooth,
lance-shaped. Axillary ten-
drils bearing leaves. Fruit
yellow, ^ inch long in clusters,
each with a short stem, kernel
inside. The root is scraped
and put into Nduvu wine to
impi'ove its strength. It is
not apparently put into oil-
palm wine,
creeper with leaf like that of
" kpuli."

A thorny climber,
inches, smooth,
base. Leaves
separate stalks,
rope.)

climber. Leaf palmate, five
leafiets G inches long. Flower
a bell about 1;^ inch long,
mauve. Youn<; leaves are

A

Leaves 3x3

all veins from

far apart on

("Ngeyei" =

NATURAL HISTORY VOCARrLARY

49

Homo-yeyakn (liomo-
yeyakni)

Jenje (jenje) . . . .
Jain (juloi) iiiul juln-lai
Kpula (kpule)
Kiyuwo (kiyinvi)

Ivdlikpo (knlikpni)
Kpulu (kpuH) . . . .

Kpukpo (kpukpoi)
Lelema (leleme) .

Mbalu (mbalui)

mauve underneath. Pods con-
tain a sort of small cotton.

A climber. Leaf fig-style, 2| x 2|
inches, each on a stalk of 3
inches. Leaves 3 inches apart.
Used as rope.

Juice from a rubber vine, not
actually the vine itself.

A climbing plant (Monrovia). Leaf
round, <> x 6 inches, rough.

The creeper producing gourds oi'
calabashes.

A climber. Fruit a follicle, long,
contains up to ten beans,
brown, 1 x f x | inch. Useless.

A vine, t Leaf palmately cleft with
six or more leaflets. About
5x5 inches. Fruit yellow-
red, size of a big egg-plum.

A vine. Leaf heart-shaped, alter-
nate, 7 inches diameter. All
veins start from base. Fruit
like a medium-sized potato
hung from its centre, solid
and whitish inside.

A vine with edible leaves.

A climbing plant. Leaves alter-
nate, smooth, 6x1 inches, pre-
hensile tip. Flower axillary
on 6-inch flower-stalk, about
8 inches diameter. Six petals,
six stamens and one three-
pronged pistil. Flowers close
backwards leaving organs out-
side. Petals narrow. New
flowers yellow, old flowers red.
No scent. [Gloriosa viresce?i'<
— Liliaceae.)

A creeper mostly found in fallows.
Leaf 6x2 inches. Makes a
good rope for building, kc.
D

50 NATUllAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Mnle (moli) .... A twining plant, which causes most

painful itching of the skin.

Leaves opposite, 2J x 1| inches,

soft, oval, with lobe on each

side of base. Tiny, gieen

axillary flower, five jjetals.

(? Mufuna jiruriensis — Le(jumi-

noxae.)

M(ile-wa-wa (mole-wa- ) . , • -i ■ ^ n mr ^•

.. ^ - } A l)igger kind of Mi ill.

wai) ) '^*=

Nali (nali) A big forest vine. Leaf 5^ x 1^

inches, elongated tip, smooth
in front, opposite. Young
shoots very hairy, brown, and
very soft. White juice used
to catch birds. (? Caijiodinus
sp . — ApocunacecKj . )

Ndambi (ndambi) . . A very big vine, very rough and

angular. Leaves opposite,
2| X 1 inches. Leafy connec-
tion along stem. Tendrils
near fiuit. Fruit a red capsule
i inch, one seed.

Ndata - wulu (ndata- A climbing plant. Infused is taken
wului) for I'heumatism.

Ngengele-tu m It a Yery big vine. Leaf stalks oppo-

(ngengele-tuml)e) site at inten-als. Leaves on

leaf stalks opposite. Leaf

4 X 1| inches, smooth.

Noti'. — 8ee tree of same name ; query one wrongly named.

Ndogbo-yuwu (nd()gl)o- Blue convolvulus. (^. Ipoiiiaeu pa/-

y uwi) ))iafa — Ccmrolvulaceae. )

Ndnndnkn (ndnndnk-di) . A gi'ound creeper gi'ow ing from a

tuberous root.

Ngeya-wulu (ngeya- A creeper, leaves on slender stalk,

wuloi) alternate, smooth, IJ x 1 inch.

Makes an inferior "tie-tie"

(rope).

Kjala-wa (njala-wai) . A creeper. The indigo. Leaf

5 x 2J inches, smooth, oval.

NATURAL HISTORY VOCARULARY

51

Nji-yuwn (nji-yuwi)
Njowe (njowi)

Kjnwp (njnwi)

Pdla (pnlai) or Powele
(pijwele)

Tainl)e (tambi)
Tanj'a (tanye)
Tauwa (tauwai)

Ta\va-l)enilie .
Tegeya (tegeyei)

A

Tifa (tife) . . .
Towa (tmve) .

Yoniba-gboli . .

acute point. jNloie or less
opposite leaves. Nodule at
base of leaf stalk. Leaves
crushed make the blue dye.
(See njala - muiuui among
shrubs.)

Creeper. Leaf 6x5 inches, fleshy.

A creeper with a biggish bean used
to kill head-lice. Not good to
eat.

Tlie sweet potato [Ij/ojnaea batatux
— ConvoJvulaceae). Also ap-
plied to the European potato,
climbing plant. Leaf G x 2
inches, smooth, alternate.
Fruit 11 inch diameter,
pyramidal, spiky, a capsule.
It is eaten. The plant its^elf
is a cane.

A creeper something like Mlialui.
Not found at Sekondi.
creeper. Leaves J x i inch,
close at night. Thorny stem.
creeper. Leaf 4 x 2J inches,
palmately lobed, tender.
Along the ribs it is a paler
green.

See Buli-yeyakoi.

A creeper. Leaf fig-pattern.
Flower yellow, Ij inch, five
petals joined at base. Fruit
up to 9 inches long is fibrous
inside, and is used tor washing
with. {Luffa cylindrica —
C'ururhitaceae.)

Shrub or plant in general.

Pumpkin {^Cucurhita j/epo — Ciirur-
bitaceae).

See Buli-yeyakoi.

A

A

52 NATURAL HISTORY VOCARULARY

PLANTS

Belu (belui) .... Pine-apple. (Rarely used. See

Nesi.)

Bondo (bonde) ... A plant. Leaf 6 x 7| inches, ivy

shape, inclines to red at edge.
Rough indented edge. Fi'uit
green, 5 inches long, succu-
lent. The Okro. [Hibiscus
esculentus — Malvaceae. )

Bowa-la (bowa-lai) . . See Njopo-bowa.

Delema (deleme) . . A name apparently given to any

plant with a big spike or
raceme.

Duma (dume) ... A plant or shi-ub. Leaf 18x4

inches, very like Kasilo-duboli
(which see), but a little stiflfer.

Fale (fale) Fungus, mushroom.

Tokpo-fale .... A mushroom that grows on the

roots of oil palm.

Fore (fore) .... Canna lily [Canria indica — Can-

naceae).

Gbanenye (gbaneiiye) . A plant. Leaf soft, 3 to 4x2

inches, rough surface, lighter
green on back. Leaf stalks in
pairs. Fruit axillary like a
small Kojoi, about half inch
diameter, reddish -yellow,
edible.

Gl)()lo (gbnle) .... Plant. Leaf 10x5 to 3 inches.

Edge deeply indented. Thorns
on stem. Fruit white, egg
size. A garden egg of a differ-
ent variety from Kojoi.

Gboni-kojn (gboni-kojui) A plant. Leaf 5x4 inches, in-
dented like Kojoi, but thicker.
Downy. Fruit 4x2 inches
diameter. Edible.

Hagba (hagbe) ... A plant. Leaf 21 x 16 inches,

smooth, very tough. Grows

NATURAL HISTORY VOCARITLARY 53

ou <a single tall stalk 4 feet
high.

llakpa (hiikpe) . Any plant used for food. Usually

in plural.

llale-lifii (hale-life) . . Any plant used for medicine.

(Hale = medicine ; tifa (lifa) =
plant.)

Hausa-l)o\va. (hausa- Lit. The Hausas" flower. A fancy

bowe) name given by the blendes.

Not in the Mende country.
A plant that spreads on the
ground chiefly on the road,
with troul)lesome prickly
" flowers " which stick into the
feet. (? Com2iositae.)

Hegu (hegui) .... A reed in swamps. About 3 feet

high. Tall hollow single stalk
with a rusty cluster of seed
stalks at head.

Helo (heloi) .... A plant. Leaf 1 x i inch, serrated

edge. Tiny yellow flowers.

Hondi (hondi) ... A tall reddish plant with seeds in

a flowering head like millet,
but small. Leaf 2 x J inches,
ribs red. Used in making
soup. Sierra Leone English —
" pla.'^sass," but plassass may
be any edible plant.

Hnwo (howi) or Hnwa A plant or reed. Leaves 8x3
(howe) inches, stiff, smooth. Flower

head a cluster of white flowers,
but sometimes yellow ; scent-
less, like fox-glove. Plant in
appearance like the Guinea-
grain. When people die it is
laid under them. When twins
are born it is laid by an ant-
hill (kokoi). {I Co4us sp.)

Kanda (kande) . . . The bitter cassava. Digitate leaves,

and in appearance much like
Tange. The roots are poison-

54 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Kasilo-duboli (kasilo-
duboli) or Kasilo-
boli (kasilo-boli)

Kibone (kibone) .

Kimba (kimbe) .

Kimba-wili (kiml)a-\vili)
or Kiiiil)a-}i-wili

Kipn (kipui) .

XojO (koji or kojni)

Koko (kokoi) .

ous when raw, and mu.st be
cooked before being eaten.
( Mu n ihof utilissima — Eiiph or-
hiaceap.)

A plant. Leaf 14x5 inches, one
sti-ai<rht mid-rib, stalks hairy.
(Kasilo-silo = spider ; boli =
drink.)

A plant, consisting of one long
juicy stem. Leaf 1^ x J inch,
tender. Leaves join together
along stem. They have an un-
pleasant smell. {Anclio manes
arum.)

A plant eaten on rice. Leaves
opposite, soft, 2x1 inches.

A plant. Leaf 4x3 inches or
lai'ger, tender, jagged edge.
Stalk five-angled, hollow. A
tiny yellow flower, bell-shaped,
five-pointed, brown centre,
axillary.

A succulent edible plant. Leaf
6 inches long, wings at base,
hairy. New leaves axillary to
old ones. This name is also
applied to a sort of wild
lettuce, edible, of probably
foreign origin.

The egg-plant. In Sierra Leone
English the Jackatoo. Leaf
10 X 7 inches, rough edge with
deep indentations, seven in
number. Fruit yellow, as big
as an apple, edible, called the
" garden-egg.''

An edible tuber — the Coco-yam.
It is of a bluish tinge inside.
Thick fleshy stalks with single
large leaves springing direct
from the root. [Colocasia.)

NATrUAL HISTORY VOCAIH'LAUV 55

K()li-ne (knli-nei) . . Lit. Leopard's tongue. A plant,

thorny on stalks and leaves.
Leaves, some five-parted 2
inches each way, some ivy-
shaped, 1| inch each way.
Leaves and flowers sprout to-
gether, at legular intervals.
Flower has red cone in centre
1 inch long, yellow to red tip
surrounded by a fringe of
1-inch bracts. One flower on
each stalk.

Kpama (kpame) ... A spinach with a little red flower.

Leaf Ig X f inch.

Kpiti - powa (kpiti - I ^^ j^^^.^ ^^ ^.j^ ^^^^^ j.^^
powe) (

Kpa-yuka (kpa-yukei) . A plant after the style of Guinea

grain (Monrovia). Fruit
orange-coloured, grows .some-
times in pairs, sometimes
singly, on top of the stalk.
Pod fleshy, with black seeds
inside, just like Cruinea grain.
Animals eat it, but not human
beings.

Kporoii-la (kporori-lai) . A plant. Leaf 4x3 inches, thick,

rough, serrated edge, each on
own leaf stalk. Flowers axil-
lary, small, yellow, in clusters
an-anged at regular intervals
up the stem,

Kpu!u-la (kpuhi-lai) . A plant. Fleshy, opposite leaves,

with zig-zag edge which is
red. Leaf 2 to 3 inches long
or more. The flower stalks
grow from root separate. The
monopetalous flowers, 1 inch
long, contain air and pop when
squeezed. {Bryoj^hyUiim caly-
cinum — craxsnlaceai'.) The
plucked leaf will sprout of itself.

56 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Konde (kondi)

Kule-la (kule-lai) or
Puta-pute

Makpa (makpai) .

Mana (mane) . .
Mande (mande) .
Mbule (mbole)

Nana (nane) . .
Nande (nande) .
Ndoglio-wili (ndogli
wili)

Nesi (nesi)
Ngauwu (ngauwi)

A small kind of plantain or
banana (Musaeeae).

A plant (Kumasi). Leaves 19 x 4
inches, serrated edge, opposite.
Flowers small, blue, branching
opposite from a long head. A
person sits in the steam of
an infusion of leaves to bring
out perspiration. Also used
as a poultice " if your foot
hurts."

A plant. Axillary branches irregu-
larly placed. Leaf obtuse,
pointed, lance-shaped, 3 x 3|
inches, rough, deeply veined,
sickly smell. Flower mono-
petalous, irregular, bell-shaped,
mauve to white, 1^ inch
long, axillary. Fruit a four-
sided capsule, small black
seeds inside.

The plantain (Musa ixtradidaca —
Musaceae).

A plant used as spinach. Kills lice
in women's hair if smeared on.

Yam. A cultivated twining plant
with large edible root. The
cultivated variety. (Dioscorea
safiva — Dioscoreaceae.)

A herb with poisonous prickles.

The Okra not fidl grown.

A thistle. Leaves opposite, pin-
nately parted, thorny. Eaten
with rice. Connected with
witchcraft. (Monrovia.)

Pine-apple.

A wild yam. Leaves in pairs,
heart-shaped, 2 x 1| inches,
smooth. Catkins. Monocot.
(? Dioscorea preh entail is — Dio-
scoreaceae.)

NATURAL HISTORY NOCAIU'LARV

57

Ngengele (ngengele)

Ngogbe (ngOghe)

Ngoru - bonu (iigvi''.' "
boni)

Njopo - bowa (njopo -
bowe) or Bowa- la
(bowa-lai)

Nguwo-tanga (nguwo- )
tange) |

Nikile (nikili) . .

Ninga (ninge)
Pegele (peijeli)
Peli (peli) \ .

Ponu (p'jni)

Crincre. A plant, red stalk. Leaf
1 X I inch, alternate, serrated
edge. Seed pods stand ver-
tical, 3 inches long.

A common small plant. Leaf
smells like a blackberry.
Leaves 2x1 inches, seriated
edge, deeply veined, oppo.site.
New leaves sprout axillary
and transversely. Small
thistle-like flower at head,

1 inch long, pale blue. Leaves
crushed in water make an
emetic. {Ageratum ronyzoideff
— Corirpoi^itae.)

A plant with leaf and pod similar
to Pijni, the Guinea-grain.
(Sch.)"

A plant with long sword-like leaf,

2 feet long, i-ibbed down
full length. When dry it
shrivels up. (Nji jpo = fallow,
or abandoned farm ; nibowa =
knife.)

A kind of bitter cassava (Sch.).

The ground nut. Leaf 4-pinnate,
leaflets oval, 1| inch long.
The nuts attach to the roots.
Small yellow papilionaceous
flower. {Arachis hypogaea —
Legutvinosae.)

Some plant that grows in water.

A very tall herb used medicinally.

Egg-plant (Sch). See Knji (? cor-
rect).

A plant growing to height of 4 feet.
Leaf lance-shaped. The red
pod at the root, just above
ground, contains brown seeds
in a white fleshy covering.

58 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Puje (puje) .

Puta-pute (puta-pute) .
Sandi-yombe (sandi-

yombe) or Sandi-

yi-ngombe

Sandn (sandoi) or Sato
(satoi)

Sawa-wa (sawa-wai)

Sele (sele)

Sembe-kpeiiia (sembe-
kpeme)

Sii-bondo (su-bonde)
Tanga (tange)

These seeds are the Guinea
grains or Grains of Paradise.
(Afraniommn meJegueta — Zingi-
heraceae.)

Pepper, a capsicum (Solanareae),
not the pepper tree. There
are two species well known.
One has large fruit, the other
ver}' small, about ^ x -^ inch
diameter. Red when ripe.

See Kule-lai.

A plant. Ground creeper. Leaf
2x1 inches. Flower like a
sweet-pea, no smell. i Cor-
rectly named.

A plant. Leaves and fruit branch
together. Leaf palmate, three
parted, each leaflet 3x1 in-
i-hes, soft, ribs almost in pairs.

Lit. The big sawa. Plant. Leaf
smooth, 1 X J inch. Flower-
head 6 inches long, very small
yellow flowei's. Leaves pounded
and scattered in the air are
said to ensure a good rice
harvest.

Banana (^Miisaceae).

A plant. Leaves fold at night.
Leaf-stalks alternate, leaves
fraction of an inch in size.
Hollow stalk. Flower half-
inch, at end of leaf stalk, flat
sideways, white with yellow tip.

? A plant at all. A " medicine "
against thorns.

Cassava. The sweet variety. The
roots may be eaten raw. Digi-
tate leaves. Stem 6 feet high
or more, brown, notched.
(.}fa.>d/iof 2^(i/ iiidtd — Eiqiliorhia-
reae.)

NATITRAL HISTORY VOCAIiULARY

59

Tawa (tawe) ....
'I'awa-vuka (tawa-vuke)
Ta-liundi (ta-hon<li)

Tej:jowe (te^owe)

Teyu - ^bnme (teyn
irbuiue)

Tifa(tife)

Tola (tole) Of tiiwa )
(towe) j

Tn<i;a (tn«je) ....

Tonye (tonye)

To-ngoni (to-ngoni) . .

Yawa (yawe) ....

Yombe (yoiiil)e) or

Ngombe (iigombe)

Vnnde (vnnde)

Tobacco.

Lit. Tobacco-ground. Snuff.

A plant. Axillary tliorns. Leaf
lance - shaped, soft, clearly
veined, 2x1 inches. Flower
a catkin.

A plant, squared stem, leaf about
1 inch. Small Avhite flowers
each on its own stalk. {Cf.
Lahiafae.)

A plant. Hairy leaves, alternate,
lanceolate, 3 x h inches. Small
flower, papilionaceous, blue at
big end, gray at small. Yellow
pistil and stamens. Leafy
bract holding water. Monocot.

Shrub or plant in general.

A bean, any kind.

A soi't of crassula with small
leaves.

A plant. Will climb. Leaf rough,
lance-shaped, 3| x 1 inches,
opposite. Flowers axillary,
like a sunflower about 1 inch
in diameter, (Coreopsis (juine-
e II sis — Compositae. )

A plant used as tobacco. Not at
Sekondi. Mende country.

Onion {^Allium sjk — Liliaceae).

A plant. Leaf heart-shaped, about
2| X 2 inches. Flower like a
buttercup. Seeds small, red,
with black heads, grow in a
cluster of pods, one in each
pod.

A tobacco plant. The juice is
drawn up the nose for snuff.

60 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Nengbe (nengbe)
nja-nengbe

Nomi (nnmi)

Water Plants

Dena (dene) . . . . ? a kind of water-lily (Sch). From

own information a tree, but
not described.
A water-lily. Leaf round kidney
.shape which floats on the watei'.
Flower six greenish bracts,
nine petals. Petals 1 J x |
inch, cluster of yellow stamens,
etc. {Niimpliaea lotus — Nym-
jyhaeaceae.)
A green sedge in fresh water. Also
moss. Also applied to green
sea-weed on the rocks.

Nja-gb(jji (nja-gboji) . A water-lily. Leaves 2 feet x 2

inches, smooth. Flowers white,
star-like. Big white bulb.
{HymenoralUs littoralis — Ama-
ryllidaceae.) Also called
Pupende.

Pupende (pupende) . A water-lily. Leaf 3 feet x 2 inches,

with strong tendency to fold
in two, which the foregoing
has not. Flower cup-shaped,
6 petals, no sepals, 6 stamens,
1 pistil. Petals white with
red stripe down centre of back.
{Crimim natan^^ — Amaryllida-
ceae.)

Buhe (liuhe) .
Demo (demoi)
Koto (kutui) .

Ferns

Bracken [Pferis aqi/ilina — Fih'fe.<).

A mossy climbing fern (Monrovia).

The staghorn fern. Usually seen
high up on big trees, or on
fan palms before they have
strip})ed their fronds with old
age. {Platycrriuni uethiopicuin
— FHicex.)

NATIRAL IIISTOUy VOCAIU LAKY (51

Kuyo (kuyi) .... A ground fern with compound leaf.

Yulo (yuli) .... A climbing maidenhair fern. Leaf

oblong, 1 inch, with serrated
edge, alternate on own leaf
.stalk. (? Gleichenia (Hchofoma
— Filices.)

Grasses

Foni (f<jni) .... A coarse grass. Applied generally

to the grass land as opposed
to forest.

Frivo (fovui), or Ngongn A tall gras.-^, up to 5 feet, but
(ngongoi) smaller than Ngare, which see.

Cibeli-nyo (gbeli-nyrd) . Guinea -corn [SoiyJium vulijare —

Gramineae). Lit. Shake-corn.

Jewe (jewei) .... A rough cutting grass, climbs.

Leaves alternate, about G
inches long.

Kete (keti) .... Millet.

Kntri-puwa (kuto-piiwe) A grass with head like oats. Birds

eat the seeds. The stem is
hollow, and is used for sucking
liquids through. Leaf 3 x 1|;
inches, pointed.

Kpale-giti (kpale-giti) . A gi'ass. Seed .stalks in threes or

fours.

Leti (leti) A grass.

Meji (meji) .... A local name for Foni.

Ngara (ngare) ... A very tall, coarse grass. Elephant

grass.

Ngongo (ngongni) . . See Ffivni.

Njawa (njawai), or Nja- A rough cutting grass. Grows 2
wa-wai feet or more. Seed heads in

clusters in centre, thence leaves
up to 1 foot long l)ranch out
star-like, three in number, with
a short intermediate leaf be-
tw^een each.

Nyo (nyoi) .... Maize {^Zea mai/s).

62 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

Nyoko (nyokoi) . . . Sugar-cane [Saecharum qtfictnafum

— Gramineae).

Pisii (pisui) .... A swamp gra.ss with long trailing

stalks. Something like "dube"
or Bahama grass. Grows in
brackish water. Name doubt-
ful.

Pote (pote) .... A grass, the seeds of which are

eaten.

Yani (yani) .... A soft spreading grass.

Yuyavi (yuyavi) ... A rough grass. Leaf 12 inches or

more by 1 inch. Leaves grow
separately from stem. Cling-
ing flower seeds, 1 inch long,
which are used to catch rats.

Names and Varieties of Rice

Mba (mbei) .... Rice generally (Oryza).

Mba-gala (^Iba-gale) . Seed or grain of rice.

Mba-wu (mba-wui) . . Ear of rice.

Bongo (bongoi) . . . Red. Short, thick grain. Planted

in mud.
Fase (fase) .... Tasteless. (;!rows slowly. Name

not confirmed,
(iete (gete) .... Red. Short-grained.
Gobe (gobe) .... ? American l>y origin. Grows in

water.
Goro-feli (Goro-feli) . . Red. Long-haired.
Jobo (jiibdi) .... ? A ])luish rice. Long grain. Fine

flavour.
Kokovaiya (kokovaiye) Red. Several heads to one stalk.

(irows antwhere.
Meka (meke) .... Reil. Slow growing.
Marra (marrai) . . . Black. A commonly grown lioe.
Manika (manikei) . . Red. Long grain.
Nja-kundn (nja-kiuidi) Red.
Pava (pave) .... Tasteless. Grows slowly. Name

not confirmed.
Pende (peu<li') , , . Black. Early rice. Short.

NATURAL IIISTOltV \ OCADl LAHV ' ' 63-

Pende^e (pendege) . . iilack. Early rice, hiliort.

SiUiii (sanai) .... Red.

Sanganvii (sanganye) . Red. Ripens slowly.

Sandi (sandi) .... Tasteless. Grows slowly. Name

not confirmed.
Tupu-lxnigo (tui)U-li()n- Strongly striped or marked. ('I'liinii

goi) =■ pnlT-addc.r.)

Wnja-wuru (wuja wiiiui) Red. Small grain. (Jrows (juickly.
Yele (yele) .... Requires cutting (juickly after

ripening. Not a specific name.
Yake (yake) .... ? American by origin. White.

Grows in water.

Orchids (Epiphytic)

Bembe (l)embe) ... A creeping orchid. Leaves 18x3

inches. Flower a long, sway-
ing raceme, white star-like
flowers. Fruit very like a
mistletoe berry. When it has
fallen off, the longdry streamers
are left hanging down. Leaves
emerge as from a nest. (? Lis-
frostachy.^ caudafa — Orrhida-
ceiie.)

Baka-yeya (l)aka-yeyei) A creeping orchid. Fleshy leaves,

5x1 inches, alternate. Long,
cree})ing roots. Said to have
a green flower. {Angraecurii
('irlilerianwn — Orchidaceae.)

Ngongoln (iigongoli) . An orchid growing out di a hole in

a branch of any tree. Leaf
3 X 1|- inches, like an orange
leaf, but without lower exten-
sion. Leaves semi-transparent,
veins inside body of leaf
smooth, alternate. Flowers
1 inch long, stand erect on
circular disc |-inch diameter,
reddish when fidl blown. Thev

64 NATURAL HISTORY VOCABULARY

are closed at end with small
green knob. Fruit a small,
red, downy berry, i-inch dia-
meter, juice red ; hangs from
branch by small twig. {^Lor-
anthus helvisii — Loranfhaceae.)

Not p. — The author failed to get the names of any
ground orchids.

Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson dr' Co.
Edinbursh &= London

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(510)642-6753

• 1-year loans may be recharged by bringing
books to NRLF

• Renewals and recharges may be made 4
days prior to due date.

DUE AS STAMPED BELOW

MAR 0 5 2001

U. C. BERKELEY

JUN 1 0 2004

12,000(11/95)

U.C.BERKELEY LIBRARIES

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265291

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY