7071. Including the Sherboro’?--Including the Sherboro’; Boom Kittam General Turner already had. With regard to the Gambia I should wish to observe, that to bring forth the resources of that colony a steamer on the river is indispensably necessary, and in my opinion she would pay her own expenses, if she were allowed to carry light goods up and down for the merchants, as a sort of packet. 7072. _Chairman._] Would there be any difficulty in manning a steamer almost entirely with blacks, so as to expose very little, if any, white life to the risks attending the navigation of the river?--For the services of colonial steamers, I believe they might be entirely manned with black people, and in the course of a few years, even with black engineers. 7073. Mr. _Forster_.] Are you aware that the French have two or three steam boats generally on the Senegal?--I am aware that the French have steamers, that they are exercising the utmost rivalry against British commerce upon the coast, and that they derive the greatest possible advantages over British commerce by the use of those steamers. 7074. _Chairman._] Is there any thing at present to prevent the establishment of mercantile steamers, either at Sierra Leone or at the Gambia, as a private venture?--As a private venture, certainly not; but it would not be worth the while of any individuals to make the speculation. 7075. Sir _T. D. Acland_.] Are the French steamers government steamers?--They are government steamers attached to the colony of Senegal. 7076. _Chairman._] What sized steamers would be required for the purpose that you contemplate?--I should say very small steamers for the Gambia itself; as small as the London boats that run above bridge; but their services would be required entirely for that river, and perhaps for the Casamanza. 7077. Mr. _Forster_.] Would not a steamer on the Gambia be very important for the Government communication with Macarthy’s Island, and generally up the river?--It is the only way that settlements up the river can be supported or protected in my opinion; it would have the effect of quadrupling the force there now, and it is the only means by which we can, in my opinion, bring out the resources of the upper parts of the river, which are so great. 7078. _Chairman._] Is the force of the current generally so strong as to render it extremely difficult to navigate up the stream with sailing vessels?--It frequently takes a week or 10 days to get a good-sized vessel up to Macarthy’s Island, where now our highest settlement is; but we should have one still higher. 7079. You conceive that there are immense resources up the river?--I do; I believe that a supply of gum might be obtained at the Gambia equal to that which we have been deprived of by the French at Portendique, if proper measures were taken. At Portendique, for the last two years, there has been no trade at all.