Another timeless night in Africa

A HAPPY New Year to all.

It is now mid-December and we are still in The Gambia in west Africa. Tomorrow, we travel south into Senegal, to cross the Casamanche River at the town of Ziganchour. Rebel forces were active along the route just a few months ago, but we are told the area has recently been secured by the Senagalese army. We hope so, and that I may be able to write a column about Senegal. We plan to be home for Christmas.

The Gambia is a small country, essentially the River Gambia and its valley. On the map it pokes like a long, slim finger into the body of Senegal which surrounds it on all sides, except where the river enters the Atlantic near the capital, Banjul. The population is 1.5 million. The people are Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Dhola and Ako and smaller groups. English is the colonial heritage, and most people speak it along with their own tribal tongue. The people here are are generally tall and slim, with fine posture. They take great pride in their clothes.