Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/560

 21G THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — WEST AFRICAN COLONIES

imlia-rubber ; the export of valuable native woods is increasing. Gold found in many parts and now being worked. Telegra])hs 626 miles, including three miles of cable. In 1895-6 a military expedition proceeded from the Gold Coast to Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti, the king of which made his sub- mission to her Majesty's representative, and is now, with his principal chiefs, a prisoner at Sierra Leone. The country has been definitely placed under British protection and there is a Biitish Resident at Kumasi.

Lagos, an island on the Slave Coast to the east of the Gold Coast, the pro- tectorate extending along the coast between 2° and 6° E. long. , and for some distance inland. Governor, Sir William MacGregor, M.D., K.C.M.G., C. B. (3,500Z.). Executive and Legislative Councils, nominated. Area, including pro- tectorate, 1,500 square miles ; estimated population, 100,000, including about 200 whites. Including Yoniba, area 20, 070 square miles ; population, 3, 000, 000 ; Christians, 6,000 ; Mohammedans, 12,000 ; the rest Pagans. 31 schools ; 3,371 pupils; exclusive of Mohammedan schools. Principal products and exports : palm oil and kernels, ivory, gum copal, cotton, rubber, cocoa, and cotfee. Cattle in 1897, 948; sheep, 1,693; pigs, 2,680, Chief imports: spirits, tobacco, cotton goods, hardware. Trade mainly with Great Britain, Brazil, and Germany.

Gambia, at the mouth of the river Gambia, formerly formed part of the West African Settlements, but in December 1888 was erected into an inde- pendent colony. Administrator, Sir R. B. Llewelyn, K.C.M.G. vl,200^., and allowances 420Z.). Executive and Legislative Council nominated. 2,700 square miles, population, 50,000. Area of settlement proper, 69 square miles ; population (1894), 14,978, including 62 whites, 5,300 Mohammedans, 2,385 Christians (Protestants and Roman Catholics) ; 5 schools, with 861 pupils enrolled ; Government grant, proportionate to results (1897, 377Z.). In 1897, 112 prisoners were tried, and 84 convicted. Chief town, Bathurst, on the island of St. Mary, 6,000 inhabitants. Chief products and exports : ground nuts, hides, bees-wax, rice, cotton, corn, india-rubber.

Sierra Leone includes the island of Sherbro, and much adjoining territory. Governor, Colonel Sir Frederic Cardew, K.C.M.G. (2,500/.) ; assisted by Executive and Legislative Councils, nominated. It extends from the Scarcies River to the north, to the border of Lil)eria in the south, 180 miles. Area, 30,000 square miles; population, over 250,000. Sierra Leone proper 4,000 square miles ; population (census, 1891), 74,835, of whom 224 are whites. Protestants, 40,790; Catholics, 571 ; Mohammedans, 7,396 ; the rest Pagans. In 1897, 72 schools were visited and inspected ; their average attendance was 5,883 (3,163 boys and 2,720 girls), and the number on the roll was 8,416 ; Government grant in aid, 1,445/. Fourah Bay College is affiliated to the University of Durham. Chief town, Freetown, 30,033 inhabitants — head- quarters of H.M.'s forces in West Africa, 800 men of the West India Regi- ment, besides engineers and artillery. Armed constabulary force of 570 men chiefly for frontier defence. Freetown, the greatest seaport in West Airica, is a second-class Imperial coaling station, with an excellent harl)our fortified with several batteries of heavy guns. There is a supreme court, and police and petty debt courts in each district ; in 1897, 538 persons were summarily convicted, and 67 referred to the Supreme Court for trial. Chief products and exports : palm oil and kernels, benni seed, ground nuts, kola nuts, india- rubber, copal, hides. Many skilled workers in gold and silver. Government savings banks with 40,418/. deposited in 1897. There are good roads, and much traffic on the many lagoons and canals.

The following are the statistics of the four colonies : —