The peninsula of Sierra Leone, which chiefly constitutes the terri tory of the colony, is 25 miles long from north to south by 12 miles broad. It is bounded N. by the Sierra Leone River ; E. by the Bunco River and the Calmont Creek ; S. by the Calmont Creek and Yawrey Bay ; and W. by the Atlantic. Its area is square miles. The interior of the peninsula is an elevated region of uneven surface, which rises from 400 to 1000 feet above the sea, and is overtopped by conical peaks, among which Sugar-Loaf and Leicester Mountains attain an elevation of between 2000 and 8000 feet. The whole region is covered with a good soil, which, on the arrival of the British colony, was entirely, and is still in part, clothed with large forest trees, among which is the silk-cotton-tree, the trunks of which are made into canoes often large enough to contain 100 men. The indi genous esculents are yams, plantains, Indian corn, sweet potatoes, okro, pumpkins, and spinach. The fruits of the soil are the cocoa nut, the baobab, or monkey-bread, banana, orange, pine-apple, guava, pomegranate, lime, papaw, and African plum. Coffee, sugar, indigo, and cotton have been introduced by the British, and grow well. Some European fruits are cultivated on the higher parts, and the vine flourishes in the gardens of Freetown. Yams, mandioc, pumpkins, plantains, and Indian corn constitute the principal food of the inhabitants.
Rircra.—Of the rivers of Sierra Leone the moat northern is the Pongas, which reaches the sea, on both sides of 10° N. lat., by four arms. Several rivers fall into the sea between Cape Tumbo and the !estuary called the River of Sierra Leone. Some of these rivers, particularly the Mellikuri and Scarcios, are visited by vessels for cam wood, teak-timber, and ground nuts. Of the great and little Scarcies, the former, called also Kahn and Mungo, runs more than 300 miles. The most important river is the Rokelle, which is navigable at certain seasons for a great part of its course. It rises in the mountains which separate Sierra Leone from S6dan, at an elevation of 1417 feet above the sea-level, and runs first south, and afterwards either west or south west, until it approaches within 30 miles of the sea, when it spreads out in a wide
Geology.—The geology of this region is little known. The Sierra Leone Mountains, the Banana Islands, and the Isles de Loss are supposed to be of volcanio origin. The main section of the interior is a vast alluvial plain, through which basaltic rocks in many places protrude. Iron is worked in the most hilly parts of the interior. Tho natives have much gold, but it is brought from the countries on the upper part of the Joliba. Salt is made along the low shores.
Clintale.—There are two seasons, the wet aud the dry. The former lasts from May to November, and is always ushered in and terminated by tornadoes. Nothing can exceed the gloominess of the weather !luring this period. The hills are wrapped in impenetrable fogs, and the rain falls in such torreut.e as to prevent any one from leaving his house. At this period the diseases which prove so fatal to the coast have generally made their appearance, though they can ecarcely bo said to belong peculiarly to any season. The average quantity of rain which falls appear. to be about 160 inches, of which one-half falls iu July and August. Tho air is then loaded with vapours, the destructive effects of which are observed in many objects. The putrefaction of animal substances and the fermentation of vegetables take place with a rapidity that can hardly be conceived. The rains are often inter
rupted by several fine days in succession.
Being at no great distance from tho equator, a high degree of heat is experienced all the year round. It is even probable that the menu heat of this country exceeds that of the equator, being 81° aud 82°. The greatest heat is experienced in the months preceding the rainy season, in which the mean temperature
IsAabitcnsta—Five different tribes inhabit the coast of Sierra Leone, all of whom belong to the negro race, but they have attained different degrees of civilisation. The coontry north of the river Kaba is occupied by the Mandineoes, whose chief town is Fouricaria. Be tween this river and the Rokelle are the Timannees, near the sea, and the Limbs farther inland. South of the Rokelle are the Kooranko, and the most eastern portion is occupied by the Soolima. It is pro bable that there are other tribes in those parte of the country which have not yet been visited by Europeans. The Mandingoes, who are Mohammedans, have made some progress in civilisation ; they are distinguished by their activity and restlessness, and are penetrating farther south, some of them having settled in the vicinity of the American colony of Liberia. The Timannees occupy a country extend ing 90 miles from oast to west, and 55 miles from north to south. Their country is divided into four nominal districts, governed by headmen, who always assume the title of king. They cultivate the ground, though with less skill and industry than their neighbours. The Timannees are very docile; they soon accommodate themselves to European habits, and are in general much attached to their em ployers. They have their fetishes and greegrees, and none of them have embraced Christianity or Mohammedanism. Their towns are 'Cambia, Porto Logo, Macabele, and Ma Yosso. The country of the Livaba is still little known. The Koorauko occupy a country extend ing east to the banks of the Joliba. In language and costume they closely resemble the Mandingoes, but they are by no means so hand some or so Intelligent. The language, except a few words which have suffered a little from corruption, is the same as that spoken by the Mandingoes, but their manners bear a stronger affinity to those of the Timannees. They dress however like the Mandingoes, with great decency, and the manufacture of cotton-cloth is general among them. The Kooranko country contains the towns of Seemeva, Kolakonka, and Kamato. The Soolima, who occupy the country between the Kooranko on the south and Foota Jallon on the north, are described as muscular and short in stature, averaging in height from 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches. The capital of the Soolima is Falaba, which consists of about 4000 huts, and contains about 10,000 inhabitants. Other towns iu the interior are Sangoora, Semba, Mousaiah, and Konkodoogore, which have altogether about 15,000 inhabitants.