George Moss, Consul for Italy, Spain, and Brazil, and Vice-Consul for Belgium, France, Netherlands and Russia.

Saul Solomon, Consul for Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Portugal, Norway and Sweden. James B. Coffin, Consul; T. E. Fowler, ViceConsul for United States of America.

G. N. Moss, Vice-Consul for Spain.

SIERRA LEONE.

Situation and Area.

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Sierra Leone proper consists of a peninsula terminating in Cape Sierra Leone, and bounded on the north by a river of the same name. Cape lies in 8° 30' N. lat., 13° 18′ W. long. The peninsula is 26 miles in length by 12 in breadth, with an area of 300 square miles. The Colony now includes the whole of the coast southward to the Mannah River, which forms the Liberian boundary, and northward to the Skarcies district, as well as the island of Sherbro, the Isles de Los, and the Banana, Turtle, Leopard, Plantain, Yellaboi, Corteemo, Tasso, Macaulay, and other islets.

The extreme length of the Colony is over 180 miles, and its area about 4,000 square miles.

History.

The oldest peninsula of Sierra Leone, was ceded to Great Britain in 1787 by the native chiefs. Four years afterwards a charter was granted to a Company under the name of "The Sierra Leone Company," for the purpose of establishing a settlement for freed negro slaves. In 1800 a grant of the peninsula was made to the Company by Letters Patent, and a Court of Directors of the Company was empowered to appoint a Governor and Council, the former having power to enact laws. In 1807, on the abolition of the slave trade, the Colony was transferred back to the Crown. In 1821, on the abolition of the African Company (see under Gold Coast), the whole of the British possessions in West Africa were united into the Colony of the West Africa Settlements. The Gold Coast was, however, soon abandoned to the merchants, and the Gambia was made a separate Colony in 1843.

In 1862 two large tracts of country called British Kwaia and Sherbro were handed over by treaty to the Colony. In 1879 further territory was facquired in the Skarcies River to the north In 1884 the seaboard of the of the peninsula. Sulymah and Gallinas Chiefs as far as the Mannah River was also annexed.

Constitution.

By a Charter issued on May 27, 1863, an Executive Council was created, composed of four members nominated by the Crown. The Legislative Council was to consist of the members of tho Executive Council and nominated members.

In 1865, it was decided that a Central Government of the settlements on the West Coast of Africa should be established, with the seat of government at Sierra Leone. This change was effected by a Charter, dated the 19th of February, 1866.

By a new Charter, dated the 24th of July, 1874, so much of the Charter of the 19th of February, 1866, was revoked as provided for the government of the Gold Coast and Lagos under the Governorin-Chief of the West Africa Settlements; and

* Mr. R. L. Antrobus of the Colonial Office is at present acting in place of Mr. Grey-Wilson, on leave.

government. A further Charter was then issued, dated 17th of December, 1874, which erected a new government of the "West Africa Settlements," consisting of Sierra Leone and the Gambia, and created a legislative council in each settlement, consisting of the officer administering the government, and not less than two other persons, to be designated by royal instructions

or warrant. New letters patent were issued, dated 17th June, 1885, providing for the continuance of the government. on the same lines, with some minor differences. By letters patent of 28th Nov., 1888, the Gambia was again made a separate government. Under these, the Governor is aided by an executive council composed of five officials besides the officer administering the government. The legislative council, of which the Governor is ex officio president, is composed of the members of the executive council, as official members, and three unofficial members nominated by the Crown.

General Description.

The capital, Freetown, lies about 4 miles up the Sierra Leone River at the foot of a chain of hills rising 1,700 feet. It contains 25,000 inhabitants, and possesses the best harbour in West Africa. It is an important coaling station and commercial entrepôt. It has been selected as a second class Imperial coaling station. It is a port of registry, and had on 31st December, 1888, 27 vessels registered, of 853 tons. The next largest towns are Waterloo in the 2nd Eastern District, and Bonthe on Sherbro Island.

The Colony contains many different races of inhabitants including a large number of Mahommedan negroes. Treaties of friendship have long existed with the native chiefs beyond British territory as far inland as Foutah, and annual stipends are paid to many of them in return for their protection of commerce and the internal roads.

The scenery is extremely beautiful. The undulating hills which stretch throughout the length of the peninsula are clad all the year round in an evergreen mantle of gigantic trees with rich foliage. The soil is good for agricultural purposes, and there is an abundant supply of pure fresh water. Tropical fruits grow luxuriantly, and cattle and poultry are plentiful.

Industry.

Most of the inhabitants are engaged in trade in the products of the interior, the principal exports being palm oil and kernels, beni seed, ground nuts, cola nuts, indiarubber, copal, hides, and ginger. Agriculture is much neglected, and there are no manufactures except the weaving of native cloths, boat-building, and mat-making. The natives of Sierra Leone are to be found engaged as traders on the Niger and in all the commercial centres of the West Coast. The imports are chiefly spirits, tobacco, cotton goods, furniture, and hardware. Three-quarters of the imports come from the United Kingdom, which only takes a third of the exports, the rest going to the other African settlements, France, Germany, and the United States.

Currency and Banking.

Besides British currency, gold doubloons, eagles, and the coins of the Latin union, are current and legal tender. There is no Colonial coinage, and no note circulation. No private banks exist; but a Government Savings Bank was established in 1882, and had in 1888 11,9297. deposited, belonging to 697 depositors.

Education.

A system of Government grants and inspection was established in 1882. There are 89 elementary

Means of Communication.

Steamers leave Liverpool for Madeira and Freetown every Saturday, and the average length of passage is 7 days to Madeira, and 8 or 9 days from Madeira to Freetown. There is also regular steam communication with Hamburg, Havre, and Marseilles, as well as with Lisbon and Algiers.

Telegraphic communication with Europe was established in 1886, there being now three cables, direct to Bathurst, Conakry, and Accra respectively.

There are no railways or internal telegraphs. Horses do not thrive, and there is but little wheel traffic and few roads fit for it. Internal communication is mainly kept up by the network of rivers and lagoons.

The rates of postage are as follows: