SENEGAL, GOVERNMENT OF, is the name given by the French to their settlement on the island, at the mouth of the above river. This settlement was found ed in 1637, under Louis XIV. and the fort thus re ceived the name of Fort Louis. Although the island is merely a mass of white and burning sand, constant ly in motion, yet its security from attack recommend ed it as the site of the colony. The streets, which are regular, consist of huts or thatched cottages, among which are some flat roofed houses of stone. As the island is perfectly barren, it is supplied with every thing from the continent.
In 1787, the white inhabitants amounted to about 60, and the military to about 600. The free Mulatto and Negro population was estimated at 2400, and the domestic and labouring slaves at 2400. These, with 1200 negroes always ready for embarkation to the West Indies, constituted a population of about 6000.
As gum Senegal has been found superior to all other gums, it is one of the principal objects of com merce at Fort Louis. The forests of Acacia, from which this gum exudes, are called Sahel, Al Fatack, and El Hiebar, the first producing the white gum, which is the most esteemed, and the other two the red gum. The trees are about 18 or 20 feet high, and three feet round. The gum begins to exude about the 10th of November, when the periodical rains are over. No incision is needed, but the gum flows from the cracks in the bark, and generally in drops about the size of a partridge's egg. These drops are always transparent and brilliant at the part where they are broken off; and when they have been in the mouth a few seconds, they have all the limpidity of pure quartz.
Early in December the Moors leave their habita tions in the desert to the care of old men, and a few servants to tend the cattle, and set out in a tumultu ous cavalcade of horsemen, camel drivers, and pedes trians. They then encamp on the borders of the gum
forest, and, during a harvest of about six weeks, they fill their leathern sacks with the gum.
The great gum fair is held on a desolate plain of and moving sands on the north bank of the Se negal, between Fodor and St. Louis. The French merchants repair thither to wait the arrival of the Moors. On the morning of the fair a confused and distant noise is lirst heard, and about noon the whole plain is covered with an army of men, oxen, and goats, surrounded with clouds of dust, with all their baggage, wives, and children. The kings are mounted on fine horses, and their wives are carried on a few chosen camels, highly caparisoned. A band of Moors, equipped with muskets and lances, escort this moving kingdom. 'When the tumult of the as semblage has subsided, and their camps fairly pitch ed, a cannon is fired as a signal for the commencement of the fair. Lies and threats of all kinds are employ ed by the Moors to obtain a high price for their gum, for which they receive in exchange East India cotton goods called pieces of Guinea. Between 1785 and 1787 the French obtained 800,000lbs. of gum exclusive of to Portendick, and sold to the Eng lish. It is sold in kantars of about 500 lbs. and costs about two-pence per pound.
In 1786, there were exported from Senegal cloves valued at 2,640,000 livres, gold valued at 90,000 B yres, and ivory and miscellaneous articles valued at 130.000 livres.
In 1756 this colony was taken by Britain, and was afterwards ceded to its in 1763. The French, how ever, retook it in 1779, and were allowed to retain it till the peace of 1783. They again lost it during the revolutionary war, but it was ceded to them at the restoration of the Bourbons.