Devil Point

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Devil Point (also spelled Devil's Point ) is a prominent point in the shape of a meander in the Gambia River in the West African state of Gambia . The headland extends slightly hilly with trees from the north to the south. The river is around 2.5 kilometers wide at this point. If you ignore the mangroves to the west and east, the headland is around 6.5 kilometers long. The place Balingho is on the southeast side.

In the middle of the 19th century it was reported by missionaries that local captains always made offerings to a "prince of darkness" at this point when they passed, who according to their imagination should live here below the headland. They sacrificed part of their food in order to have another safe journey downstream or upstream.

At the edge of the channel of the river are some dangerous shoals , the most prominent victim of which was the river ferry Lady Chilel Jawara . On December 7, 1984 she had ground contact and capsized with 73 Gambian and 25 European passengers ( tourists ), four people drowned. Two masts of the wreck can still be seen today.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Stephen C. Stringall, Dody Broyles: Gambia. International Travel Maps, Vancouver 2003, ISBN 1-55341-217-6 (map, 96 × 61 cm, 1: 350,000)
  2. ↑ William Moister: Memorials of Missionary Labors in Western Africa, the West Indies, and at the Cape of Good Hope. With Historical and Descriptive Observations, Illustrative of Natural Scenery, the Progress of Civilization, and the General Results of the Missionary Enterprise. 3rd edition, revised and enlarged. W. Nichols, London 1866, ( Online )
  3. ^ David Jonathan East: Western Africa, its Condition, and Christianity, the Means of Its Recovery. Houlston and Stoneman, London 1844, ( Online )
  4. ^ William Fox: A Brief History of the Wesleyan Missions on the West Coast of Africa. Including Biographical Sketches of All the Missionaries who Have Died in that Important Field of Labor. With Some Account of the European Settlements and of the Slave-trade. Aylott and Jones, London 1851, ( online )
  5. ^ Norman Hooke: Modern Shipping Disasters, 1963-1987. Lloyd's of London Press, London 1989, ISBN 1-85044-211-8
  6. ^ Devils Point accessed August 2008
  7. ^ Cruising Guide to West Africa. (PDF; 1.54 MB) Accessed June 17, 2014 (English).

Coordinates: 13 ° 28 ′ 19.8 "  N , 15 ° 36 ′ 34.5"  W.