uganda protectorate - Palgrave Connect

10.1057/9780230270305 - The Statesman's Year-Book, Edited by John Scott-Keltie
WEST AFRICAN COLONIES
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Southern Nigeria (see NIGKRIA). Its limits have recently been modilicd by
agreement with France and re-arrangement of the British possessions on the
Niger. Its boundaries are defined by the Lagos Protectorate Order in Council
of December 27, 1899. The area is over 21,000 square miles, with a popur
lation of about 3,000,000, mostly pagan, but containing 12,000 Mohamme,
dans and about 6,000 Christians.
GAMBIA.
Gambia, at the mouth of the river Gambia, formerly formed part of the
West African Settlements, but in December 1888 was erected into a separate
colony. Administrator, Sir G. C. Denton, K.C.M.G, (1,500., and allow,
ances 6001.). Executive and Legislative Council nominated. Area of
colony proper, 69 square miles; population (1899), 15,000, including 62
whites, 5,300 Mohammedans, 2,385 Christians (Protestants and Roman
Catholics) ; 6 schools, with 883 pupils enrolled; Government grant, proportionate
to results (1898), 362Z. There is an armed police force of 100 men.
In 1899, 149 prisoners were tried, and 103 convicted. Chief town, Bathurst,
on the island of St. Mary, 6,000 inhabitants. Chief products and exports :
ground nuts, hides, bees-wax, rice, cotton, corn, india-rubber. Adjacent to
the Colony are protected territories with an area of about 2,700 square miles,
and a population estimated at 200,000.
SIERRA LEONE.
Sierra Leone lies between French Guinea on the north and the Republic of
Liberia on the south. Governor, Sir Charles Anthony King-Harman, K.C.M.G.
(2,5002.); assisted by Executive and Legislative Councils, nominated.
Sierra Leone proper consists of the peninsula about 26 miles long, and 12
miles broad, with an area of about 300 square miles, terminating in Cape
Sierra Leone. The colony of Sierra Loone extends from the Scarcies River on
the north, to the border of Liberia in the south, 180 miles. It extends inland
to a distance varying from 8 to 20 miles and includes the Isles de Los, Yellaboi
and other islands towards the north, as well as Sherbro and several
smaller islands to the south. Area about 4,000 square miles ; population
(census, 1891), 74,835, of whom 224 are whites. Protestants, 40,790;
Catholics, 571 ; Mohammedans, 7,396 ; the rest pagans. In 1899, 65 schools
were visited and inspected ; their average attendance was 5,583 (3,148 boy.s
and 2,435 girls), and the number on the roll was 7,789 ; Government
grant in aid, 1.372Z. 2s. Qd. Fourah Bay College is affiliated to the
University of Durham. Chief town, Freetown, 30,033 inhabitants—head
quarters of H.M.'s forces in "West Africa, 800 men of the West India Reginient,
and a West African Regiment raised in 1898, besid.es engineers and
artillery. Armed constabulary force of 600 men chiefly for frontier defencp.
Freetown, the greatest seaport in West Africa, is a second-class Imperial
coaling station, with an excellent harbour fortified with several batteries of
heavy guns. There is a supreme court, and police and petty debt courts in
each district; in 1899, 1,329 persons were summarily convicted, and 112
referred to the Supreme Court for trial. Chief products and exports : palm
oil and kernels, benni seed, ground nuts, kola nuts, india-rubber, copal,
hides. Many skilled workers in gold and silver. Government savings banks
with 47,830Z. to the credit of 3,581 depositors, deposited in 1899. There are
good roads, and much traffic on the many lagoons and canals. A government
light railway is open from Freetown to Songotown, 30 miles, and across
the Ribbi river to Rotofunk, 30 miles; the extension to Bo, 80 miles, has
been begun.
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