SENEGAL SETTLEMENTS. On the banks of the Senegal and Gambia rivers in West Africa, different European governments have established settlements. These settle ments in Senegambia (as the country is called) differ materially from those in other parts of the world. They are strictly commercial. The settlers have not acquired the property of any land, except the place on which they have settled, and no cultivation is carried on by them or their people, except at a few spots which are rather gardens than plantations.
These settlements were originally established for the purpose of procuring negro slaves for , the colonies in North America. The country had other productions which were valued in Europe ; and the natives of the in tenor were desirous of obtaining several arti cles of European manufacture, partly for their own consumption, and partly to sell them to the nations of Soodan. Accordingly these settlements were not abandoned on the aboli tion of the slave trade, like those on the coast of Guinea, and they continue in a thriving state. Each of the three European nations which have formed settlements has taken possession as it were of one of the three large rivers ; the French of the Senegal, the English of the Gambia, and the Portuguese of the Rio Grande. Each has built a fortress on an is land not far from the mouth of the river, which serves as a safe place of deposit for the goods imported, and thence the productions of the country are shipped. The merchants set out from these places in large river boats with their goods at certain seasons of the year, and ascend the rivers as far as they are navigable. They stop at certain points to
which the natives bring their productions to exchange for European manufactures. In a few positions on the banks of the rivers small fortresses or blockhouses. are erected, in which some black soldiers with two or three Euro pean officers are kept for the protection of commerce. Some merchants, particularly English and Portuguese, have formed com mercial establishments not far from these fortresses in those villages which are advan tageously situated for commerce. The French settlements are chiefly at St. Louis, Podhor, Bakel, and Goree. The English settlements are at Bathurst, Macarthy Island, and Fort St. James. The Portuguese settlements are at Bissao, Jeba, Bolula, Cacheo, and smaller ones in the interior. St. Louis, Bathurst, and Bissao, are flourishing towns.
Nearly all the articles of commerce which are exported from the European settlements in Senegambia are brought from the interior by small caravans or cafilas, which generally stop at certain places where commercial esta blishments are found, and take European merchandise in exchange for their goods. A considerable commerce is also carried on between Senegambia and the countries further east.
To such of the Senegambia settlements as belong to Great Britain, our exports in 1849 amounted in value to 85,7701. ; consisting principally of clothing and firearms. These firearms were exchanged with the natives for the produce of the country.