STRAINING OIL FROM THE FIBROUS PULP OF THE OIL PALM, OSHOGBO.
Fig. 22, [p. 97.]
COTTON BALES, MARLBOROUGH GINNERY, IBADAN.
Fig. 23, [p. 113.]
AFARA TREE (TERMINALIA SUPERBA) AT OLOKOMEJI.
Fig. 24, [p. 118.]
An inferior quality is that made at Oshogbo and north of Ibadan generally. The fruits, after having been boiled for about three hours, have the fibrous pulp sufficiently loosened, so that the whole is easily separated from the nuts by pounding in a wooden mortar. The fibrous mass thus obtained is then put into a pit, which is filled to a depth of about eighteen inches with cold water, and the oil is expressed by women and young girls, who tread it out with their feet. After leaving the water undisturbed for a short time, the oil rises to the surface, from which it is skimmed, or it may be precipitated, by the removal of a plug placed in the side of the pit, into a vessel placed to receive it. The treading process is repeated until most of the oil is extracted. The oil is then separated from the water which it contains by boiling. The fibrous pulp is next removed, strained in baskets, and is placed upon rocks to dry in the sun, after which it is pressed into large balls, which are sold in the local markets at 1d. each. Much of this finds its way to Lagos Town, where it is sold for fuel at the rate of 8d. for 8½ lb. In this connection it may be mentioned that there appears to be no foundation for the statement which has been made to the effect that this residual pulp is exported in large quantities from Lagos for the further extraction of oil by chemical means in Europe. An illustration is given showing a girl straining fibrous pulp in an oil pit at Oshogbo ([Fig. 22]).