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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