Sierra Leone
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Sierra Leone. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) a small British colony and a protectorate on the W. coast of Africa. The colony occupies the peninsula, Sherbro Island, some small isles and a coast-strip between French Guinea and Liberia. Area, 4,000 square miles. The protectorate extends inland and is bounded by French Guinea on the N., by Liberia, E. and S. E. Area, 27,000 square miles. Principal products: palm kernels, cola nuts and gum copal. Exports in 1919 were valued at $2,101,569; imports at £2,123,344. There are 169 elementary schools. A college at Fourah Bay, to prepare natives for the ministry, is supported by the Church Missionary Society. Pop. of colony about 75,500; of Protectorate, about 1,400,000, mostly negroes. There are about 700 whites. Sierra Leone was purchased by Great Britain in 1787 from the native chiefs, for the purpose of a settlement for liberated negroes, and to aid in the suppression of the slave trade. Capital, Free Town. Pop. 34,000.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
a British colony. It lies on the West African Coast adjacent to Liberia. Area, 4,000 square miles; population, 80,000. There are less than 1,000 whites. Over half of the population has been converted to Christianity. Over 8,000 pupils are in school. Freeport, the capital, has a population of 37,000 and carries on a thriving export trade in palm oil, ginger, peanuts, kola, and India rubber . The native artisans excel as gold and silversmiths. In 1909 over 1,250,000 postal packets were carried. In 1896, 30,000 square miles of additional territory was annexed under the title of a protectorate. This territory extends 180 miles inland and has a native population of 1,000,000. An active traffic is carried on in forest products.