ABSTRACT
The most widely understood language in the Protectorate is Mandinka, although it cannot be called a lingua franca. The Creole English of the Colony is also generally used.
P H Y S I C A L E N V I R O N M E N T (1)
TTie Protectorate covers an area of 27,669 square miles, which may be divided into three geographical regions:-
(a) The Coastal Bush Region, inhabited by Sherbro, Krim, Vai, Bullom and Temne. This region is a narrow strip of land, 10 to 40 miles wide, mostly low-lying and level, crossed by nine large streams, intersected by estuaries and dotted with lakes and swamps. For most of its length it is fringed by low barrier islands, separated from the mainland by shallow lagoons. It was formerly covered with rain-forest, which has been largely destroyed and replaced by ‘bush* and jungle. Mangrove forests fringe the lagoons and estuaries, and other trees include banana, paw-paw, orange, lime, palm and camwood. Rivers are navigable for from 20 to 40 miles inland by light boats and launches.
