Meaning of word Bolon?
In Gambia a bolong or bolon means a creek, "movable water" or
"tributary" in the Mandinka language. Many point north or
south into Senegal they supply fresh water during the rains.
The most famous is Bintang Bolong (different spelling Bitang
or Vintang) the largest tributary of the
Gambia River which flows south
east into Senegal. It rises in the Senegalese region of Kolda.
This is part of the Casamance region, between the states of the Gambia
and Guinea-Bissau. Near the mouth lies
Bintang Bolong Lodge.
The river's course flows over a distance of about 130 kilometres in a westerly
direction and has a width of approximately 570 meters. At the
geographical coordinates are 13 ° 19 'N, 16 ° 13' W at
the mouth, at the Bintang Point, the water depth is about 5-7
metres deep, and on the banks are extensive mangrove forests growing
up to 55 feet high.
Historically it marked the border between
two kingdoms; the Mandinka and Foni Kiang. Foni was on the left, and
Kiang on the northern side of the river.
In the 15th century the Portuguese maintained a trading post at
Bintang village located on the river bank a few km upstream. Later,
this post was used by British merchants.
Further upriver is Santamba another old trading post
which is now just ruins of the old commercial buildings. Likewise Foni
Kansala was a historic place, and today is
where Bwiam if located.
Meaning of word Bolon?
