The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-26
BRITISH GAMBIA.
A ProspMou, Country Which Offers an Opening to
American Manufacturers.

At a time when so many paEts of the
world send news Of little but turmoil
and unrest, At is pleasant TO read Of a
country where peace and plenty reign
and the people are seemingly contented.
Its area is small and The population
only some fifteen thousand, yet IL raised
n revenue last year of s2lS5S5, of which
IL spent but $145l75, and had at the be-
ginning of this year with a balance
left from the end OF 1897. an available
surplus i'm hand OF $145,o 900 That happy
country without debt is the British
Gambia settlement in West Africa says
the New York Sun. 1t is governed by
an administrator assisted by four Off
cials. and two unofficial members nom
mated by the crown. It's export trade
is large. the staples being groundnuts.
better known wibh us as PEANUTS, and
India rubber. The value OF the exports
OF the former hast year was $l.00l. j45.
and of the latter Sl53, ,240. OF the i'm
ports the largest item was cotton cloth
for S303,s35 all from Manchester. AS
regards the patterns of the cloth the
English manufacturers appear to be
rousng themselves, for they are now
closely initiating native patterns and
consulting the native taste. The native
cloths. however, are the more lasting.
Rice and sugar are also largely I'M
ported SO are salt fish and cornmsal Ii
is interesting to know that a consider
able import trade Is done from further
down the coast in Kola nuts. These are
consumed entirely by the natives. es-
pecially the Mohammedans. who offer
them 60 friends calling just as a Euro
pean or American host might offer ci-
gars or some kind OF refreshment
The Administrator, reporting on the
social condition OF his little state. gives
some interesting details One is that
Mohamme9anism is increasing, and
with IL temperance and decency. The
women, he says. are growing averse 10
marrying drinking men, and the suitors
become Mohammedans to gain their
wives. He further says that Christian
ity is making no advance into the In
terlor, and that at Bathurst, the capital
or the colony at the mouth OF the river
Gambia u is stationary. fully half the
population being Mohammedan.Th The late
Sir Richard Burton. when travelling IN
that part OF Africa more than twenty
FIVE years ago made the same obser-
vsfions Whatever the reason, Chris
tfanity has made but little progress
among the negro populations or that
part Of Africa. probably owing IN some
degree TO the SulNlNlIk II cAAANi'hS VI AaAi
davs when the white Christian was only
known u the then pagan natives as a
slave trader.
AS regards the Gambia trade. there
certainly appears TO be an opening for
the manufacturers OF this country. par
ticularly i'm cottons. There should be no
difficulty I'm procuring some of the more
popular patterns OF the native cloths.
and giving the river traders goods OF
high quality and nearly as durable as
those OF the strong and coarse native
make. Cornmeal, too. Of the color and
grades most suited to the market could
be furnished IN any quantity; and II a
little trouble were taken to find out the
patterns and quality OF the tools and
implements used by the natives i'm their
agriculture and ordinary industries a
brisk trade might be created for them
not only i'm that particular part OF the
West coast. but. through it with the
interior When SO small popul3tion
and territory as that of the Gambia
settlement is found capable of develop
ing 50 large a trade as shown i'm last
years report. n seems well worth max
ing an effort 10 secure a foothold for
the trade which must come with the
growth of population and the spread OF
civilization into the interior Of that par
ticulsr part Of Africa where the peopl1
are industrious and born traders.