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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Gambia
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(officially The Gambia) Member of the *Commonwealth since 1965 and a republic since 1970. From the 16 to 19C the French and the British fought over trading settlements along the Gambia river on the west coast of Africa. In 1889 it was finally agreed that Britain should control the land 10km/6m either side of the river, as an enclave within the surrounding French colony of Senegal. This arrangement defined the unusual shape of the narrow territory, stretching some 320km/200m inland, which became independent in 1965 as The Gambia.
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