Now, just to keep all things Gambian together, I am repost Maggie's Home picture.

Thanks Marcia. Let me tell you a little about the picture. This is the rear of the three room mud brick house that we lived in for 9 months. It belongs to a Gambian pastor and we housesat it while he was in Ghana. The picture was taken during the rainy season. In the dry season it looks very different. It has a tin roof and tin ceilings inside, which get VERY hot in the dry season. At one point it reached 43 degrees centigrade inside and all the candles melted. But ... the ceilings do keep the rats out!!! (You just ear them instead) I'll think of more later. Maggie

That sounds like Hawaii. They still build houses with tin roofs and single walls (pipes are arrayed all over the back of the house on the exterior!) When it rains all conversation ceases for the duration, and the TV is turned up high enough to split eardrums in normal circumstances. Fortunately, we have false ceilings beneath those tin roofs - so they do not get so very hot. We lived in one for our first four years in Hawaii, so I understand what you are saying! (You are quite welcome!)

Ditto about the rats running across the roof...and the cat chasing after...!

But, Maggie, isn't it fabulous when it rains on that tin roof? And having to put rocks and pumpkins on the roof to keep it from blowing off in a thunderstorm. And the smell of it!

Yeah! I sometimes put a rainforest modd tape on just to hear heavy rain and recapture it. I have to admit that little house is my dream house. It had its difficulties but we were very happy there.

..then smell of it...Oh yes, Indeed! Wonderful incredible fragrance of steam rising off hot surfaces. The only better smell in this category is the fragrance of steam rising off hot congealed lava...indescribable, but has a hint of celery leaves about it. It is a wonderful sound to lull you to sleep...it blocks out absolutley everything else!

I have two memorable memories of tropical rain. The first was in Cameroon when we experienced our first ever tropical rainstorm. Everyone, adults and kids went really wild dashing out into the rain, dncing around. our kids just stood around amazed at all the crazy behaviour, and then there was a gentle tug at my skirt - mum, can we get wet too? The second was in the lane just outside the house in the picture. The lane separated our compund from the nurses compound opposite. on either side of the lane was a steepish bank. During the rains there was a flash flood down the lane to a depth of about 20 inches or more. All the kids in our part of the village came to play, sliding down the grassy bank into the water, just like a water shute. Hannah (10yrs), eager to join in as usual, dashed into the house, put her swimming costume on and then a tie round skirt on top, and dashed out to join in the fun. Within minutes her waist length hair was a mass of mud and grass as she slid and jumped with the others. Esther (by then 13) ever the young lady, stood demurely on the bank in the pelting rain holding a huge golfing umbrella looking like she longed to join in but felt she was too old (although she had put on her swimming togs and skirt). Every few minutes kids would appear out of the water and join Esther under the umbrella only to be drawn back in o the fun. Eventually I went out, gently took the umbrella from her and with a (non too gentle) push sent her flying into the water. Of course, once she was soaked there was no point in coming out again and she gave in and had a whale of a time too.

I can remember stuff just like that. We used to have umbrellas too. When the rain came, we'd go out with our umbrellas upside down to gather the rain. It's just a different sort of rain from northern continent rain altogether.

I can't help but get excited about Africa rain, it's just soooo different!

It sounds very much like Hawaiian rain - soft and soothing to the skin and altogether a pleasant sensation. It seldom pelts down - it falls heavily or lightly but always beneficiently.

What a sensous image, Hawaiin rain.

MMmmm as it's now heading onto the season of dreary drizzle in Britain I just love reminising. Maybe I'll get the opportunity to try Hawaian rain sometime to make the comparison! Marcia, I've done some more pics. I'll send you a trial one to see if I've got the resolution right.

Oh, Terry, Hawaiian rain is to be enjoyed, not to run away from. It is lusciously sensual especially if you can share it with someone who feels the same way about it. Warm and soft and gentle...*sigh*...children love to play in it as they never get chilled. Maggie, your maps are enlarged to twice their size so we could read your writing. I enlarged the colour print to twice its original size so we could see it. All are on Spring's hard drive and I shall place them as requested. GAMBIA Map 1 GAMBIA Map 2

How many different tribes do you get in that whole Senegal area? And do they speak very different languages, or can they sort of relate to each other like Spanish and Italian and languages like that? And how friendly are the different tribes towards one another?

Whew! Riette, that's just what I'm working on! I have a listing of 39 languages for Senegal, and 20 for Gambia (which I surveyed in the late 1980s). The languages in Senegal and the Gambia belong to three different main families: Western Atlantic (WA), Mande and Arab each subdvided again into further families. There are different levels of distinction, but these main groupings cannot understand each other at all and languages in the sub grouping have varying degrees of commonality. Even within a sub-group family the differences between languages can be very marked. In these terms Spanish, Italian and French would appear on a language continuum as far as intelligibility is concerned, all being Romance languages which is a sub-group of the Indo-European main group. I think I've got that right - language typology is more my husbands field than mine! 84% of the languages in Senegal are in West Atlantic family, 12% in the Mande family and 2% in the Arab family. In the Gambia the majority are in the Mande family. As an example of communication, in the village I lived in there were five main language groups - Mandinka, Manjako, Bambara, Serer, Wolof. Mandinka and bambara are as unlike as Spanish and Italian, Wolof is completely different and so is Serer as they belong to two other families. To communicate people from different language groups use mandinka to talk to each other. This is all in a small village of 40 compounds (family groups). Howzat for a quick answer!

Here's some general info on The Gambia for you The Gambia is one of the smallest countries in the world. It lies on the far west of Africa and is surrounded by the Republic of Senegal apart from the sea coast. It forms a narrow strip along the River Gambia about 350 kilometres long and between 24 and 50 kilometres wide. The river Gambia divides the country into two main areas - the North Bank and the South Bank. South of the river there is one tarred road which runs the entire length of the country, but on the north bank there are no tarred roads xcept those running from the ferries north into Senegal. During the rainy season travel on the nroth bank becomes difficult, if not impossible. About 70% of the population live in rural areas and are subsistence farmers. The main cash crops are groundnuts, and almost 60% 0f cropland is under groundnut cultivation. English is the official language and there are about 20 national languages. According to some estimates 75% of the population over the age of 15 are functionally illiterate, although 61% of school age kids are reckoned to be at school. The rate changes dramatically between rural and urban areas, with very low numbers in some areas, and particularly few girls.

Few girls in some areas...is that due to natural causes or human intervention ??

I have always believed that, if people from all around the world should form one huge chain - in the right order - and the first person in the chain says something to the next person in the chain and that is repeated, then each person in the chain will know what is said to them without speaking the previous or the next person's language until the end of the chain is reached. Do you know what I mean? I guess in that part of Africa girls are still expected to play a more domestic role?

girls- it's mainly human intervention. can't say much here cos its public. I'll try and remember to email you both with a more private response.

I'm not sure from my expereince/research so far that I agree with you Riette. I think some languages are so far from their original source that the links won't be there anymore. Might have worked earlier though!

I wish there was a way of finding out. I'd at least love to see how far one would come.

The mind boggles!

I found some nice Gambian websites. Try http://grove.ufl.edu/~alyons/ This is the best site - run by an ex-peace corps guy http://www.niica.on.ca/gambia/default.htm A Canadian site about Gambia http://www.africanet.com/africanet/country/gambia/ http://www.gambia.com The official republic of The Gambia site. Has anyone found any others?

Not yet, but those are lovely. I will search and add them to this topic. I love sleuthing through the elusive internet in search of information...

got this news today, don't know if anyone I know is involved yet. GAMBIA: Banjul and surroundings calm Gambia's capital, Banjul, and surrounding towns remain calm on Tuesday, a day after students and city hoodlums fought pitched battles with police which resulted in several deaths, Police Public Relations Officer Abdoulie Sanyang told IRIN. "People are going about their normal business," he said. However, he said police were patrolling the streets of Serrekunda, a vast semi-residential neighbourhood and the centre of Monday's demonstrations some 12-15 km southwest of Banjul. Thousands of protestors threw stones, attacked public buildings, burnt cars as well as four police stations. Sanyan and other witnesses said the protest only turned violent when hoodlums joined the demonstration. Exact numbers for people killed and injured are not immediately available. However, news sources put the conservative estimate at between 10 and 12 dead and scores more injured.

the latest on the troubles GAMBIA: Banjul and surroundings calm Calm was restored to Gambia's capital, Banjul, and surrounding towns on Tuesday, a day after angry students and city hoodlums fought pitched battles with police which resulted in several deaths, Police Public Relations Officer Abdoulie Sanyang told IRIN. The demonstrators burnt cars and four police stations, and damaged telecommunications as well as other public and private property. They were protesting against an autopsy report on the death of Ebrima Barry, a high school student. He died after allegedly being beaten by firemen in the town of Brikama, about 30 km south of Banjul. The six accused firefighters are being held in remand. Throughout the week police maintained patrols in the streets of Serrekunda, a vast semi-residential neighbourhood and the centre of Monday's demonstrations some 12-15 km southwest of Banjul. The official casualty report, so far, is 12 people dead and 28 hospitalised. Government closes schools The government has responded by ordering the immediate closure of all schools and tertiary educational institutions. State House, the office of the president, condemned what it said was the "irresponsible and senseless behaviour" of the demonstrators, led by the Gambia Students Union, and said perpetrators would be held responsible. However, a coalition of five local human rights groups and the Gambia Press Union have condemned both students and government forces for the troubles. In particular, these bodies criticised the shooting of students and a Red Cross volunteer. "The alleged shooting, killing and maiming of students cannot be justified in any civilised society, especially one that professes to be democratic," the coalition said. The government denied its forces used live ammunition.

Friday, 1 September, 2000, 12:11 GMT 13:11 UK Gambia gets first green light The lights are on the road linking Gambia's two main cities By Ebraima Sillah in Banjul There was euphoria and jubilation in the Gambia's biggest town of Serrekunda on Tuesday when early morning commuters to Banjul saw for the first time a traffic light system on one of the busiest roads in the country. The traffic light project worth over $30,000 (US) has been provided by Shell Marketing Gambia Limited. The project - the first of its kind in the history of the Gambia comes at a time of increasing road traffic accidents at busy junctions in the country. Shell's installation manager Lang Konteh describes the traffic light project as his company's contribution to the socio-economic development of the country. He said "as good corporate members of the society, this initiative is in line with our commitment to health, safety and environment". Traffic policeman The police public relations officer, Inspector Abdoulie Sanyang, said the police welcome Shell's initiative in reducing road accidents. Inspector Sanyang said that with the introduction of the traffic lights on Kairaba Avenue, one of the busiest roads in the Gambia, there will be less demand on the police in directing traffic. He said "this will help us to concentrate on the prevention of crime in areas where we are needed most". A police officer who used to direct traffic at the junction where the traffic lights are built remarked: "This is a relief to some of us because we no longer have to stand under the blazing sun or in the rain to guide motorists". Excitement Public reaction to the new traffic lights is one of excitement. It is hoped that it will lead to the orderly flow of traffic and minimise the risk of police officers being knocked down by motorists. However because of the high level of illiteracy in the country and the low level of awareness among many motorists about how the traffic facility works, there is public anxiety about whether new traffic lights could in fact be a solution to the Gambia's numerous road accidents. A task force has been set-up to sensitise motorists and the general public about the effective use of the traffic lights.

Monday, 18 September, 2000, 02:19 GMT 03:19 UK Malaria vaccine goes on trial UK scientists have developed what could be the first effective vaccine against malaria. The first clinical trials of the vaccine will start on Monday in Africa. If it works, the vaccine will be the best hope yet of defeating a disease which claims more than a million lives a year, and is now threatening to spread towards Europe. The trials will be carried out in the Gambia by scientists from Oxford University. Professor Adrian Hill, from the university's department of medicine, said the vaccine, based on fragments of the malaria parasite's own DNA, was the first to target the disease once it had entered the body's cells. Previous vaccines against the disease, which is responsible for a quarter of all child deaths in Africa, have only been able to attack the parasite before it enters cells. "Instead of using the malaria parasite itself, inactivated in some way, we are actually using DNA, the genetic material," Professor Hill told the BBC. "We are using a purified preparation of DNA, which is a gene, and that gene makes a tiny part of the malaria parasite when it is used as a vaccine." High fever The Oxford team says tests of the vaccine on British volunteers deliberately infected with malaria have already been undertaken. Professor Hill said if the Gambia trials were also a success, the vaccine could become available within five to 10 years. "We're pretty hopeful that we will see the same in the Gambia and that the vaccine will be effective at preventing malaria," he said. Trials co-ordinator Dr Vasee Moorthy said: "Unless a vaccine is developed, cases of malaria and deaths from malaria will continue to increase over the next few years and will spread to parts of southern Europe and America, from which it had been eradicated." Malaria kills up to two million people each year. Over 90% of deaths are in Africa and two-thirds are among children. The mosquito-borne disease causes high fever, muscle stiffness and sweating. It is the most prevalent tropical disease in the world. More than 40% of the world's population live in countries where malaria is endemic. Drugs are used to treat victims but climate change, social instability and increased resistance to pesticides and treatments have hampered the battle against the illness.

The above article is really great news. Both my girls and I have had malaria ..it is not pleasant and kills ...in the village we lived in, in one week 10 older children died ...several of these were in my sewing class and used to sit on my verandah to sit and talk.