town and port, eastern Gambia (Gambia, The), on the south bank of the Gambia River. The town is a branch banking centre; a market centre for peanuts (groundnuts), rice, and cattle among the Fulani, Malinke, and Wolof peoples; and the last port of call for the government steamer from Banjul, 244 miles (393 km) downstream. The Basse Health Centre is the largest in the interior. Pop. (1993) 9,265.