At this time, traders leave their stores which are situated more in the centre of town and go to wharftown shops in order to participate in the groundnut trade. In addition to these shops, the visitor can visit several handsomely build trading establishments constructed near the turn of the century. Maurel and freres, J.B. Morre. Sutukoba was once a thriving trade center situated on the fringe of the ancient Jolof Empire. It was thought to have had a population of nearly 4,000 in 1507 and was an exchange point between goods from the interior of West Africa and goods from the Portuguese controlled river traffic.
Fresh water is critical to life.
In Perai Tenda at the riverside can be found a multitude of abandoned shops formerly occupied by European, Gambian and Lebanese traders during a time when up-river commerce offered substantial profits for private traders. The principal trade was in groundnut. Roads were poor and most of the trade occurred on the river. Thus riverfront sites were characteristic for trading firms. Today most of the purchasing and handling of groundnut is carried by farmer's cooperative societies.