Record

DC - Directors' Correspondence
- 59 - African Letters

Ref No	DC/59/74
Title	Letter from Charles Barter to Sir William Jackson Hooker, from Lagos, [Nigeria]
Description	[The handwriting is difficult to read and a portion of the letter at page 7&8 is missing] Barter writes from Lagos because the steamer ‘Rainbow’ only got 70 miles up the Niger before having to return. Dr. Baikie now plans for them to return to the sea and the party of four (Baikie, Barter, Lieut. Glover and Mr. Dalton) will then make the journey overland, through Yomba country, to Rabba and then on to Loccotoo[?]. He will do as much plant collecting as possible and try to observe the ‘distinct regions in the great valley of the Niger’. He describes the Mangrove region, the characteristics of the plant and it’s economic value and notes the presence of masses of oysters. He talks about the town of Akarra. Ferns and Barradas grow well and there are plantations of Cocoa nuts and Raphia but few Oil Palms. He talks about palms and the fruits of various plants e.g. a little Phoenix, and something called ‘Holo’ by the natives. He has gathered ‘a curious Dorstenia’, Barria and amongst the network of tree roots has found a number of epiphytes and procured many species of the genera Anglaecum[?], Bulbophyllum, and Plenisthasis? The common ferns of the coast he lists as Platycerium, Hermania, Asplenium falcatum, A. amulatum [?], Dysaria vulgaris, D. inoides, Faniopsis sp. He has also noted algae. This kind of ‘lower life form’ is abundant, though there is an absence of birds he describes other strange creatures and crustaceans and pests. Mangroves are later replaced by Pandamis chandelabra and Raphia vinifera and a large timber tree which is a species of Lophia from which Barter has collected some ‘imperfect specimens’. He describes other trees to be found between Sunday Isl. and Abo; the Anthocleista vogelii and a Cecropea-like tree. He describes the dense vegetation, he has found ‘a shrub like a large species of Ruteus’, a new species of Panthenium and a species of Impatiens with red flowers. A Clerodendrum resembling C. splendens he calls ‘the glory of the woods and a species of Lamilla is also prevalent. The natives cultivate Bananas and plantains. He describes the feeling, climate, sights and sounds of the delta forest – the beauty of the birds and the small hidden Orchidaceae and overflowing Lamilla. Barter arrived at Lagos on the 19th January where it seems there was some turmoil. He then describes their plans for moving on and the other traffic and communications going through Lagos. He describes the people, the lack of plants and the buildings in the town. He describes in more detail the things that will grow in people’s gardens, the conditions and the geography of the island city. He lists the plants that grow in the areas of the bush that are not swampy including Chrysobalanus and small Oil Palms. He then lists the differing plant life to be found in the swamps. He talks about the vegetation around and in the river and lagoon; Papyrus antiquorum. He talks about growing Oil Palms and Shea Butter, about the fruit and vegetables brought to Lagos; oranges from Porto Novo and then discusses the differences in oranges from different places, he mentions the Gambia and Sierra Leone and Fernando Po. Barter is sending all his Lagos plants. He writes that they plan to set out for Rabba in 8 days but a recent fire and fear of attack by the defeated King Kosoko may delay their departure.
Date	6 Feb 1859
Creator	Barter, Charles
Collection Title	RBGK: Directors’ Correspondence
Level	Item
Extent	ten page letter comprising ten images

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