86 COTTON IN BRITISH WEST AFRICA 



recurrence of unfavourable conditions, the exports 

 during the year only amounted to about 31 tons. 



The results obtained in 1906 were again disappoint- 

 ing, and in spite of the efforts of the British Cotton 

 Growing Association, the cotton exported amounted 

 to only 39 tons, and was of poor quality. It was 

 therefore decided to discontinue the work, and the 

 Moyamba plantation was abandoned. 



The outcome of these efforts to create a cotton 

 growing industry in Sierra Leone has been to show 

 that the native " Quondi " cotton can be grown 

 satisfactorily, but that the rainfall is too heavy for 

 the cultivation of exotic varieties. The natives are 

 not attracted to cotton growing in the forest areas 

 where oil-palm, rubber and piassava trees abound, 

 but it is possible that beyond these regions they would 

 take to the industry if transport facilities were pro- 

 vided. The natives are, however, naturally indolent, 

 and are not easily persuaded to exert themselves to 

 produce anything that is not required for their own 

 immediate needs. 



Although the British Cotton Growing Association 

 have withdrawn from Sierra Leone, experimental work 

 on cotton cultivation has not been altogether 

 abandoned but is being continued by the Department 

 of Agriculture. 



The quantities of cotton exported from Sierra 

 Leone during the years 1903-1915 were as foMows : 



Year. Quantity. Year. Quantity. 



Ib. Ib. 



1903 . . . 1,120 



1904 . . . 28,267 



1905 . . . 68,808 



1906 . . . 87,805 



1907 . . . 13,006 



1908 . . . 336 



1909-15 . . nil 



Gambia. The cultivation of an indigenous variety 

 of cotton has long been carried on by the natives of 

 the Gambia in a very primitive manner. The crop 

 is used for the manufacture of the " pagns " or native 

 cloths which are in considerable demand locally. 

 Small quantities of the cotton have occasionally been 



