During the dry season, which often occupies seven months in the year, from November to May, the highest maximum and the lowest minimum temperatures are recorded; the range being from 41° (lowest minimum, March 1909) to 105° (highest maximum, March 1909 and April 1911). The rainfall, of which official records are kept at Bathurst, varies considerably, as the following extract will serve to show: 1901 45·31 inches 1910 44·00 inches 1902 29·42 „ 1911 28·14 „ 1903 57·13 „ 1912 33·99 „ 1904 38·02 „ 1913 23·68 „ 1905 66·07 „ 1914 48·91 „ 1906 64·36 „ 1915 47·64 „ 1907 34·00 „ 1916 38·02 „ 1908 43·54 „ 1917 37·68 „ 1909 56·59 „ 1918 54·03 „ =Soil.=—The soil generally is of a light sandy nature, becoming stiffer as the undulating regions of the upper river are approached. The low countries are subject to flood in the rainy season, and are only favourable for rice cultivation. [Illustration: JOLAH WITH NATIVE HAND-PLOUGH, BULLELAI, FOGNI. Fig. 1, p. 3.] [Illustration: CANARY ISLAND PLOUGH, AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, ABUKO. Fig. 2, p. 3.] [Illustration: RUBBER TREE (_FICUS VOGELII_) AT BATHURST. Fig. 3, p. 9.] =Chief Crops.=—The country is rather sparsely populated, but, on the whole, the people are fair cultivators and prepare their lands in a careful manner. Practically the only crop grown for export is the groundnut, monkey-nut, or earth-pea (_Arachis hypogæa_), which forms by far the most important article of cultivation. Alternating this with the staple food-crops of the country, namely, guinea-corn, maize, millet, and cassava, a fairly useful form of rotation is obtained. =Implements.=—Cultivation among the Mandingoes and Joloffs is performed by means of a large wooden-bladed, iron-shod hoe, with which the loose earth ridges are thrown up. A small iron hoe is used for keeping down weeds and clearing. In the Jolah country a handplough is employed, consisting of a flat blade attached to a pole, and pushed in front of the operator, so as to throw up a shallow ridge. This is shown in the picture which represents a native with the implement at Bullelai (Fig. 1).