Gambia, a British colony of W. Africa, occupying both banks of the river whence it derives its name, and consisting'of the island of St. Mary, the ceded mile on the Barra Shere, and McCarthy's island, 180 m. up the river; area, 21 sq. m.; pop. in 1871, 14,190, of whom 56 were white, 136 colored, and the remainder black. The chief settlements are Bathurst, Fort James, and Fort George. Bathurst and Fort James are situated in St. Mary's island; Fort George on McCarthy's island. The climate is generally considered unhealthy. In summer the heat is excessive, the thermometer frequently rising to 106° and 108° in the shade. The soil is rich and alluvial, and liable to periodical inundation. The principal exports are beeswax, ground nuts, and hides, and the imports cotton goods, tobacco, amber, rum, etc. The revenue of the colony in 1870 was £18,-969, and the expenditures £21,937. The value of imports was £91,997, of exports £142,518. The total tonnage of vessels entered and cleared in 1870 was 113,914.