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shore, which has been covered between high and low water marks with longitudinal lines of stakes and hurdle work, for the purpose of retaining the beach; ordinary groins have been tried for the same purpose, and have failed to effect it.

4. The Gambia at Bathurst has its general level during the rainy season raised about 4 feet. This causes high-water mark, whether at spring or neap tides, to be then 4 feet higher than it otherwise would be, and so causes the greater portion of the island to be under water at each tide; and as this phenomenon occurs when the river water is most highly charged with impurities, it results that each tide, in the wet season, leaves deposited on the surface of the flooded ground a certain quantity of vegetable and other objectionable matter (which, although slight in amount at each occurrence, will become something considerable each season), the presence of which under a fierce tropical sun must be one of the causes of the unhealthiness of the place.

5. Another peculiarity is due to the soil being sand; this is that water percolates through the soil from the sea, and rises and falls with the tide. At high water, during even the dry season, when the level of the river is at its lowest, the spots of ground that are the least elevated will be seen streaked with water, and those that are only just above the water-level at the time will be damp. His Excel- lency the Administrator informs me that in the grounds of Government House near the sea (see plan of Bathurst at the end*) he can generally reach water, at these periods, a few inches under the surface: The sandy soil also immediately absorbs rain, the fall of which is very great in the wet season. Except on roads and other artificial surfaces, rain-water never runs at Bathurst; it disappears like it does on a sandy sea-beach.

6. This dampness of the soil is irremediable. Embankments may be made to keep out the wash of the river at high water, as is done to a moderate extent, but the percolation through the soil will always continue, with the result of miasma and its consequent fever.

7. Practically there is hardly any choice of site for new barracks at Bathurst; if constructed, they must be placed along the north shore (which has not been built upon, owing to its unfitness for shipping purposes); but even here the objection above referred to will apply, and sickness must be expected, without the possibility of moving men to a sanitarium, unless they are removed from the Settlement.

8. Another objection to the occupation of Bathurst as a fortified depôt, requiring a strong war garrison, is due to the small amount of available space both for establishments on shore and for anchoring-ground in the river, conveniently near to these establishments, but out of reach of the strong tide, which runs 6 knots at springs.

9. While the channel, within artillery range, at Bathurst is practically a straight one, and nearly 3,500 yards broad, the east of St. Mary's Island forms a salient very little larger than a right angle. This is bad for defence, and the objection is increased by the fact (as stated in the War Office Memorandumt) that any vessels anchored at Bathurst must be in front of batteries erected there, the guns of which would therefore be masked in the direction of these vessels.

10. An inspection of the Settlement and a consideration of the general question of its occupation has resulted in a conviction that it would be most unwise from every point of view to fortify Bathurst, either as a coal depôt or as a refitting port; the place does not appear to possess a single advantage; its geographical position even is less favourable than that of Sierra Leone, which latter place is of easy access from the sea, and (as stated in my Report thereont) combines most of the requirements both of a coaling and of a refitting station, and would, in combination with St. Helena (which it is presumed must always be strongly held), practically divide the distance between Simon's Town and Gibraltar into equal lengths.

11. If Sierra Leone did not exist, or, if existing, it belonged to another Power, it might be incumbent on us to hold Bathurst at all cost; but with Sierra Leone in our possession, Bathurst is one of those places (referred to in the printed letter from War Office to Colonial Office, 25th February, 1881,§ General No. 5 1437, which accompanied my instructions) the occupation of which would "unduly scatter our military forces, and for the defence of small quantities of coal or of stores, court attack or insult, which could not readily be repelled," except at a cost of money and of men altogether out of proportion to the object to be obtained.

12. With these views on the general question, details will now be considered.

Existing Defences.-The positions of the batteries at Bathurst are shown on the accompanying plan.* The six-gun battery has a straight parapet of masonry 30 yards long, 5 feet high, and 5 feet thick, with an epaulment at each flank. The guns (24-pounder smooth-bores) are on high traversing plat- forms, firing en barbette. In rear of each epaulment is a 13-inch L. S. mortar.

13. Adjacent to and on the east of this battery is a merchants' powder magazine, which is a present source of great danger to the community.

It is an ordinary building with large window-like openings, closed with shutters. As it is close to Government House and the barracks, it ought to be removed.

14. The three-gun battery mounts three 24-pounder smooth-bores, also on high traversing platforms; there are pivots, but no racers, the iron trucks running on a rough masonry floor. The parapet is 7 feet high and 10 feet thick, of good masonry, without traverses. The battery is closed by a wall (not loop-holed) 6 feet high, with a gate.

Neither of these batteries is provided with any magazine or store. The batteries are in good order, but are useless for any modern requirements.

15. The two one-gun batteries are remarkable constructions; both are in ruins.

In each a 24-pounder on high traversing platform was mounted with front pivot so as to fire over nearly a semicircle. The diameter (front) of this semicircle is occupied by a wall 1 ft. 6 in. thick and 6 feet high. This wall is continued round the curved portion, only just clear of the tail of the platform. The wall has a door in it, and is not loop-holed; it must have been built to inclose the gun after the latter was fixed in position. A single shot striking the wall would probably have put the gun

detachment hors de combat.

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Appendix No. 4.

GAMBIA.

* Not printed. † No. 10.

Inclosure 1 in No. 5.

§ Inclosure 1 in No. 6, Appendix No. 1 to First Report.

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