THE GAMBIA 



withbut * negroid i features. They are said to be strictly 

 Mohammedan, and to have originated from the country 

 near the source of the Senegal river. The Joloffs occupy 

 the northern bank of the Gambia river, and extend 

 well into Senegal. The Jolahs inhabit the province of 

 Fogni, and spread into the confines of French territory 

 towards the Casamance river. They are a curious race, 

 given to living in small family villages, and are said to 

 be vindictive. They are of a lower type than the 

 three other tribes mentioned, and are jealous of their 

 rights. 



Political Divisions. The Protectorate is divided into 

 five districts, each under the control of a Travelling 

 Commissioner. These districts are named in accordance 

 with their positions : North Bank, South Bank, M'Carthy 

 Island, Kommbo and Fogni, and Upper River. 



Natural Conditions. The climatic conditions of the 

 country are favourable to the breeding of cattle and 

 horses, although in the vicinity of the river and creeks 

 two species of tsetse fly are common. By carefully 

 preventing animals from straying into these infested 

 tracts the spread of fly-borne disease is held in check, 

 and cases are comparatively rare. 



During the dry season, which often occupies seven 

 months in the year, from November to May, the highest 

 maximum and the lowest minimum temperatures are 

 recorded ; the range being from 41 (lowest minimum, 

 March 1909) to 105 (highest maximum, March 1909 and 

 April 1911). The rainfall, of which official records are 

 kept at Bathurst, varies considerably, as the following 

 extract will serve to show : 



1901 . . 45-31 inches 1910 . . 44-00 inches 



1902 . . 29-42 1911 . . 28-14 



1903 . . 57-13 1912 . . 33-99 



1904 . . 38-02 1913 . . 23-68 



1905 . . 66-07 1914 . . 48-91 



1906 . . 64-36 1915 . . 47-64 



1907 . . 34-00 1916 . . 38-02 



1908 . . 43-54 1917 . . 37-68 



1909 . . 56-59 1918 . . 54-03 



Soil.- The soil generally is of a light sandy nature, 

 becoming stiffer as the undulating regions of the upper 



