IVORY COAST. A French possession in West Africa, bounded on the north by the French Colony of :85•1C.gal and the French Slilitary Ter rito•ies (about parallel 10° N.), on the east by the British (.4)1(1 Coast, on the south by the Gulf of Guinea, and on the west by Liberia. The length of shore-line is about 400 miles, with Cape Pal mas (01 the west. The area is estimated at 125.500 square miles. The coast is flat, and bordered in the eastern part along the gulf by lagoons, of which the Grand Lahou. the Grand Bassani, and the Assini are the largest. The only good approach for ships is at the mouth of the Konm•. The coast strip is generally about 35 miles wide. The plateau of the interior is covered to a large extent with impassable forests—the chief mate rial resource of the colony, and at the same time the most formidable obstacle in the way of ex ploration and development. The forest region is interspersed with large stretches of savannas, which characterize especially the Battle district. The country becomes gradually higher through the Kong territory, being highest in the :Mina, the region of time northern boundary. The Caval ly River forms the western boundary. The Ban damn, Cassandra. Songan, and Tannin are the other rivers, none of them of much commercial value.
The climate is generally hot and unhealthful. The year is divided into four seasons. The main rainy season lasts from Starch to Jul'. with a mean temperature of nearly 82° F.; a short dry season continues through August and September, with a mean temperature of 79°; during October and November there are rains again. and a rise in the average temperature to over 81° ; in De cember the hot and dry season sets in, with a mean temperature of over 82°. The vegetation is exceedingly rich, and the forests abound with coffee and resinous plants, oil-palms, and dye woods. The ellief products of the colony are palm
oil and kernels. mahogany, and rubber. Ivory and gold-dust. are also exported. The natives cultivate corn and rice. Coffee cultivation promises to be important. The commerce has increased re markably during the last few years, having risen from $538,480 in 1890 to in 1000, the exports for the latter year amounting to $1.558, 396. Only a small portion of the trade is with France. Grand Bassam and Grand Lahou are the chief commercial points, the former having direct communication with France. The colony is administered by a Governor. assisted by an administrative council. The local Government is under the Governor-General of French West Af rica. (q.v.). The colony is divided into fonrleen circles. The budget balanced in 1901 at $368.244. and the colony is self-supporting. The seat of administration is Bingerville, formerly called Adjamr.. Official estimates place the population at 2,250.000. The chief tribes on the coast are the .Apollonians and the Los. The tribes of the forest region are on a very low plane of civiliza tion, cannibalism being practiced in some parts.
French occupation of the Ivory Coast dates from 1842. Forts were then established at Grand Nissan], Assini, and Dalu. They were evacuated in 1870, and reoccupied in 1385, when the ex ploration of the interior was begun. As a result of Captain Binger's expedition during 1885-37, a considerable part of the interior came under the protectorate of France, mid with the con quest of Samnory's domains after a five years' resistance French supremacy became practically established over the entire country.
Consult: Wahl, Nouvelle geographic generale de la France el les colonies (Paris, 1901) ; Petit, Les colonies francaiscs (Paris, 1901).