British Colonies. 
151 
The following Table is a summary of the Trade returns in the four Blue Books for 
1871. It shows, at a glance, the value of the commerce of the British Settlements :— 
Imports and Exports. 
Sierra Leone 
Gold Coast 
Gambia 
Lagos 
Totais 
Total commercial movement 
Imports. 
Exports. 
Vessels 
Entered. 
Vessels 
Cleared. 
Tonnage 
Entered. 
Tonnage 
Cleared. 
305,849 
250,671 
102,064 
391,653 
£ 
467,755 
205,207 
153,100 
589,802 
4 ii 
343 
229 
278 
409 
315 
211 
275 
110,646 
131,553 
51,853 
125,776 
110,919 
119,494 
47,994 
125,168 
1,050,237 
2,55< 
1,505,864 
),IOI 
1,271 
1,210 
419,828 
403,575 
Thus, over twelve hundred vessels entered and cleared with cargoes exceeding two 
millions and a half in value. 
These are the actual results of the year 1871. Since then two changes have been 
made, the effects of which are becoming already manifest, namely, the addition of the 
Dutch possessions in Guinea to the British Settlements, and the general revision of the 
tariffs, with a view of encouraging trade and shipping. Owing to these changes, it is 
probable that the exports from Her Majesty’s West African Settlements will exceed 
jT2,000,000 in 1873, and that the imports will reach £ 1,500,000, which would give a total 
commercial movement of ^3,500,000 ; a larger sum than is exhibited by three not 
unimportant possessions put together, viz., the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands, 
Tasmania, and Western Australia. 
Manufactures. 
In Kambia some attempt is made at manufactures. From the cotton shrub that 
grows near every house the women pluck the raw material, from which they spin a coarse 
strong thread, which is woven in a native loom made of hard wood and leather prepared 
by themselves. 
In the verandahs of the native houses the country cloth, from which are made tobes 
and other articles of wearing apparel, may be seen in process of manufacture, within a few 
feet of the plant still laden with the opening seeds, from which the material of the thread 
is plucked whenever it is required. 
In the circular gate-houses leading to the courtyards of the better classes the 
blacksmiths may be seen making hinges, nails, and other common articles from native 
iron. The same sort of ore that is to be found at Sierra Leone is also to be found in the 
interior. But though it is neglected on the coast, it is smelted in rüde furnaces at 
Kambia, and is the material from which the blacksmiths make all the iron articles 
required in that district. 
The negroes of the interior may also be seen tanning leather, colouring it with 
native dyes, and making sandals, shoes, and saddles. 
In every village they are busy manufacturing oil for their own consumption and for 
the European markets. The value of the oil so manufactured and exported last year to 
Europe exceeded ^400,000. This manufacturing industry is altogether carried on by the 
negroes beyond our Settlements. 
At Elmina there are a considerable number of natives who have been trained by the 
Dutch as masons, carpenters, and blacksmiths. The native houses are strongly built of 
stone. At Cape Coast, eight miles off, the native houses are built of mud, and there is 
very little attempt at industry to be seen. 
The German missionaries at Akropong give technical instruction in their schools. 
They are zealous, and live in a healthy district, but, as yet, they have made no impression 
beyond a very limited area.