Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/961

 FRENDH WEST AFRICA 889

capital of Senegambia- Niger (490 sea miles), duriug the vainy season, and extensive works for the improvement of the river have been carried out. The Senegal is closed to foreign flags. Dakar, the principal port, is in regular communication with French ports by the steamers of 4 French lines, and with Liverpool and Hamburg by a British and a German line. Works are in progress for the extension and deepening of the harbour, the erection of sheds and workshops, and the construction of a large dry dock. The Bank of West Africa, with a capital of 5,895,000 francs, and reserve funds 254,000 francs, was founded in 1901 for the purpose of carrying on financial, industrial, or commercial operations ; with it the Bank of Senegal at St, Louis has been fused.

R.B.M.'s Consul-General at Dakar. — Captain C. Braithwaite Wallis, Acting Vice-Consul. — P. H. Stormont.

French Guinea lies on the coast between Portuguese Guinea and the British colony of Sierra Leone, and extends inland so as to include the territories of Dinguiray, Siguiri, Kouroussa, Kankan, Kissidugo, and Beyla. The area is about 95,000 square miles, and the population was estimated in 1906 at about 1,498,000, including 1,147 Europeans. A regular system of Government lay schools has recently been introduced all over French West Africa. In 1907 there were 22 official schools with 1,304 pupils, and 2 Catholic schools with 67 pupils. The principal product is rubber, others are palm oil and nuts, millet, earthnuts, gum, and coffee, which is grown in the Nunez region. There is an experimental garden near Konakry (the capital) where the culture of bananas, pine apples, rubber trees, and other plants is being tried. Futa Jallon contains cattle in abundance. In 1909 there v/ere 8,974 cattle and 2,812 sheep. Gold is found in the river Tinkisso and in the Bowie and Siki districts. The principal exports were rubber, cattle, groundnuts, and palm-kernels. Total commerce in 1911, 37,948,169 francs. A road from Konakry to the Niger has been made, and will be connected by branches with the raihvay stations. The rail- way which is to run from Konakry to the Niger at Kourassa (366 miles long) was opened in January, 1911. It will be continued beyond the Niger to Kankan (49 miles). The jetty, 1,066 feet long, at Konakry has been completed. In the colony there are 1,650 miles of telegraph and 46 miles of telephone line, with 6 miles of submarine line. In 1910 imports were 1,728,719Z, and exports 732,240Z. Konakry is visited regularly by the steamers of two French, one English, and one German company. The budget of the colony provided for 1911 the sum of 6,192,000 francs.

The Ivory Coast lies between Liberia and the British Gold Coast Colony, and, including the kingdom of Kong, extends inland to the military territories of the French Sudan. The French obtained and asserted rights on the coast about 1843, but did not actively and continuously occupy the territory till 1883. Area about 130,000 square miles ; population in 1910, 1,132,812 ; Europeans about 750. The seat of administration is now Bingerville, formerly called Adjame (European population, 127), where extensive building operations are now in progress. There were in 1907 29 official schools with 573 pupils and 4 Catholic private schools with 66 pupils. The principal centres of population and trade are Grand Bassam, with a lagoon forming, an excellent harbour of refuge, Assinie, Grand Lahou, Sassandra, Tabou ; and, in the interior, Abijean, Aboisso, Tiassali, Bonduku, and Korbogo. The natives cultivate maize, plantains, bananas, pineapples, and other fruits ; European coffee culture js si^ccessful, especially in Elirpa near Assinie ; coco-nuts and rubber aie