GOREE, an island off the west coast of Africa, forming part of the autonomous district of Dakar. It lies at the entrance of the large natural harbour formed by the peninsula of Cape Verde. The island, some 90o yd. long by 33o broad, and 3 m. distant from the nearest point of the mainland, is mostly barren rock. The greater part of its surface is occupied by a town, formerly a thriv ing commercial entrepot and a strong military post. With the rise of Dakar (q.v.), c. 186o, on the adjacent coast, Goree lost its trade and its inhabitants, mostly Jolofs, had dwindled in 1905 to about 1,500. Its healthy climate, however, makes it useful as a sanatorium. Goree was first occupied by the Dutch, who took possession of it early in the 17th century. It was captured by the English under Commodore Holmes in 1663, but retaken in the fol lowing year by de Ruyter. The Dutch were finally expelled in by the French under Admiral d'Estrees. Goree subsequently fell again into the hands of the English, but was definitively occupied by France in 1817 (see SENEGAL : History) .