MacCarthy Island was purchased in 1823, and named after Maj.-General Sir Charles MacCarthy, K.C.B., Governor-in-Chief of the British West African possessions; the ceded mile was granted by the King of Barra in 1826; and British Kombo was granted by the King of Kombo in various cessions in 1840, 1850, and 1855.

In 1897 the countries of Foni and Jarra, on the south bank of the river, came under British protection.

Foreign Kombo was annexed by the British Government and is now divided into North, South and Central Kombo.

The Protectorate system of administration has been established since 1894, and extended from time to time by agreement with the different chiefs concerned, until Ordinance No. 7 of 1902 was passed, providing fully for the Government of the whole Protectorate, which is divided into four Provinces and again into Districts. There is a Commissioner in charge of each Province, and each District is under a Head Chief, with a native tribunal specially appointed by the Governor.

The Provinces are as follows:-North Bank Province, with the districts of Lower Niumi, Upper Niumi, Jokadu, Lower Baddibu, Central Baddibu and Upper Baddibu. MacCarthy Island Province, with the districts of Sami, Niani, Nianija, Upper Saloum, Lower Saloum, MacCarthy Island, Fuladu West, Eastern Niamina, Western Niamina and Niamina Dankunku. Upper River Province, with the districts of Fuladu East, Kantora, Wuli and Sandu. South Bank Province, with the districts of Central Jara, Eastern Jara, Western Jara, Eastern Kiang and Central Kiang, Kombo St. Mary, Kombo North, Kombo South, Kombo Central, Kombo East, Foni Brefet, Foni Bintang-Karenai, Foni Kansala, Foni Bondali, Foni Jarrol and Kiang West.

Inhabitants of the Gambia.

The inhabitants are mostly of the negro race, the chief tribes being the Jollofs, Mandingos, Sarahulis, Fulas and Jolas. The country of the Jollofs is on the North Bank or Senegal side of the river, and they form a large portion of the community in the town of Bathurst.

The Mandingos are the most numerous people on this portion of the African coast, and derive their name from Manding. a town some 700 miles inland and towards the boundary of the Colony of Sierra Leone. They are mostly Mohammedans.

The Jolas come from Foni, between the southern limit of Kombo and the north bank of the Cassamance River. Their country runs in a north easterly direction towards the south bank of the Gambia River as far as the mouth of the Bintang Creek. They are mostly pagans.

The Sarahulis are the most recent arrivals in the Gambia having migrated from the interior of Senegal. They are found chiefly in the eastern portion of the Upper River where they have established fairly large villages. They are all

Mohammedans.

The Fulas (not the pure race, the nomads of West Africa) are good farmers and herdsmen. Their features are somewhat of the Asiatic type and their skins of a lighter colour than negroes. The capital of the Fula country is Timbo in Futa Jalon, and is situated in north latitude 10° 38′ and west longitude 11° 10′.

Industry, Trade and Customs. There are no mines in the Colony, but in several places in the Protectorate iron ore is to be found in

large quantities, although not worth exportation. A small quantity of cotton is grown, but only for local consumption, and it is made into narrow strips of rough coloured cloth, common to all West Africa. The strips average 27 yards in length and 9 inches in width.

Pottery is made in the Upper River Province. A considerable amount of excellent leather is produced from goat skins. It is not exported but utilised by the people in making bags, slippers, sandals, scabbards, saddles and horse trappings, and the skilful manner in which coloured grasses, silk, cotton, etc., are laced through the decorative portion of the leather work is common to most of Mohammedan West Africa. Most towns and villages have a "Koranki " man, or leather worker.

There is an abundance of fish in the lower reaches of the Gambia River, and large quantities are dried and taken each season into the Protectorate for sale. Quantities of oysters are obtained in the creeks, and are cooked by the people for food, the shells being made into native lime.

The ground nut is the staple article of cultivation, and forms the chief export crop of the Gambia, Large quantities of foodstuffs, such as rice, maize, guinea corn, cassava, etc., are raised for local consumption.

A considerable trade is done with the French settlements and the adjoining coast districts in cotton goods, tobacco, rice, and hardware.

The principal imports are cotton goods, rice, kola nuts, metals, sugar, tobacco, and oils.

The principal exports in 1937 were:

A new Customs Tariff Ordinance was passed manufacturers and products. The ad valorem rates of in 1932, giving preferential treatment to British duties are in the majority of cases 9% on British goods and 11% on Foreign goods. For carriages and parts thereof (inclusive of motor cars and tyres) the duties are 41% ad valorem British and 221% ad valorem foreign. Aircraft and accessories are admitted free of duty if British, if foreign they are subject to an ad valorem duty of 2%. In the case of goods subject to specific duties, a similar preference is given to British goods.

The largest proportion of the Customs revenue is derived from duties assessed on a specific basis. A special customs tariff has been introduced in the case of certain goods imported from Japan, and an Ordinance has been passed empowering the Government to limit the importations of certain textiles. This quota is at present applicable to piece goods and handkerchiefs of Japanese origin only.

There is an Education Department under the Director of Education. The Christian schools, which are wholly in the hands of the several denominations, receive grants-in-aid. Of ordinary primary schools in Bathurst, there are one Anglican, two Methodist and two Roman Catholic, with 1,938 scholars in all. Education is not compulsory, and fees are charged. There are two Methodist High schools and two Roman Catholic Secondary Schools, two for boys and two for girls, all under European control. There is also an Anglican secondary class. The total number of pupils in secondary schools is 105. There is also a Mohammedan school with 169 pupils, at which the ordinary rudiments of an English and Arabic education are taught, the payment of the teachers being borne by the Government. At MacCarthy Island there is a primary Methodist school with 44 pupils, and a Government Mohammedan school, started in January, 1927, with 46 pupils on the roll.

A total Government grant-in-aid of 2,9761. was made to assisted schools, including 3601. to the secondary schools, during 1937.

Means of Communication. Communication between the Colony and Europe is effected by the steamers of Elder Dempster Lines, Ltd., which normally run monthly between Liverpool and Bathurst. Steamers of various French and Italian lines sail regularly between France and Dakar, and by doing an overland journey of about 120 miles from Bathurst to Dakar passengers may get to Europe in eight days.

An air mail service connecting the Gambia with Sierra Leone was started by Elders Colonial Airways in 1938.

Internal communication is conducted chiefly by water-borne craft, the Gambia River forming an unrivalled highway for 300 miles. The Govern ment maintains a service of river steamers which run weekly during the trading season and fortnightly or monthly at other times of the year.

Telegraph cables place Bathurst in cominunication with West Africa and cable stations throughout the world.

Bathurst Wireless Station, which has a range of approximately 1,000 miles, communicates with ships at sea and the important town of Dakar in the French Senegal. Wireless stations are also established at Kuntaur, Georgetown and Basse, and a regular service is maintained between these inland towns and Bathurst.

A central battery telephone system is employed in the town of Bathurst, and in direct connection with Cape St. Mary.

There are no railways. A laterite metalled road connects Bathurst with Cape St. Mary in British Kombo, 11 miles, crossing Oyster Creek at Denton Bridge. At Mile 6 a similar road leads by Kanifin to Brikama, 16 miles. Another road goes from Kanifin to Sukuta, 31 miles.

Motor cars are used in Bathurst and its vicinity. The rules of the Postal Union have been adopted by the Colony and the Protectorate. The following are the rates of postage:

Letters. Internal-1d. per oz.

Empire and U.S.A.—14d. for each oz. or fraction thereof.

Other Countries-3d. for the first oz., and 14d. for each succeeding oz. or fraction thereof.

Parcels Post.

If posted locally for delivery within the Colony, 6d. for first 2 lbs., 4d. for each additional lb.

Parcels from abroad redirected to an Inland
Office, 6d. for first 2 lbs., 4d. for each
additional lb.

If addressed to the United Kingdom or
British West African Colonies :-

Not over 3 lbs. to U.K. 2s. 3d.; W.A.C.
2/-.

Over 3 lbs., but not over 7 lbs. to U.K. 3s. 6d.; W.A. Colonies 3/-.

Over 7 lbs., but not over 11 lbs., to U.K. 4s. 9d.; W.A. Colonies 4/-.

Over 11 lbs., but not over 22 lbs., to U.K. 6s. 9d.; W. A. Colonies 73.

There is no direct parcel post scheme at present with foreign countries. All parcels are forwarded through the medium of the General Post Office, London, a small additional charge being made for onward transmission.

1928

Sir John Middleton, K.B.E., C.M.G.
Sir Edward Denham, K.B.E., C.M.G.
Sir Herbert R. Palmer, K. C. M. G., C.B.E.
Sir Arthur F. Richards, K.C.M.G.

Sir Edward J. Cameron, K.C.M.G. Captain Sir C. H. Armitage, K.B.E., C.M.G., D.S.O.

The climate of the Gambia during the dry season from the end of November to the middle of May is pleasant and generally healthy. During the wet season-June to October-the conditions are much the same as elsewhere on the West Coast of Africa: the change from excessive dryness to a damp atmosphere is found to be trying. In the interior the temperature is high from March to June. The lowest reading of the thermometer in the shade during 1936 in Bathurst was 56° F. in January, the highest recorded temperature being 102° F. in March. The rainfall during the year 1936 in Bathurst was 66-90 inches. The rainfall varies considerably; the average is 47 inches.

1930 1933 1936

Sir Wilfrid Thomas Southorn, K.C.M.G.,
K.B.E.

Executive Council.
The Governor, President.
The Colonial Secretary.
A. G. B. Manson.
M. M. Auchinleck.
Dr. C. Wilson.

Clerk of Council, G. Amos, M.B.E.

Colonial Secretary, H. R. Oke, C.M.G., M.C. (1,1501.), 1,000l., and 2001. duty allowance personal. Senior Assistant Colonial Secretary, and Assistant Colonial Secretary, 400l. to 1,000l. (appointments filled by officers seconded from the Provincial administration).

Office Assistant, G. Amos, M.B.E. (400l. to 7201.), 400l. to 600l., personal.

African Assistant Colonial Secretory, W. Topp, 3001. to 4551.

Chief Clerk, 1st Grade, F. D. D. Roach, 2601. to 3601.

Printing Branch.
Government Printer, A. J. Samuel, 260l. to 360%.

Receiver-General's Department. Receiver-General, M. M. Auchinleck (1,0501.), 720l. to 9601., and 721. duty allowance personal.

§ The revised scale of salaries is shown in brackets immediately before the scale of salary of which officers are at present in receipt except in cases where the officer has been appointed on the revised scale.