Do not encourage Bumsters - you may be able to handle them but your encouragement makes it more difficult for the next mark to say no.
Do not give pens, sweets or money to kids. For one thing they are like kids everywhere, their mother probably does not know what they are up to and probably wouldn't approve if she did. Secondly, imagine the reaction in Western Europe if you started handing out sweets to unaccompanied children - why should things be different in The Gambia?
Do use the market, you might just learn something, spend a few dalasi, you will certainly be helping someone and building their and your self respect.
Try Gambian Gin, very carefully, you'll delight the whole company, help someone because it is locally made (you don't want to know how) and you can then say with authority you don't like it - or, for some, maybe you've found a quick way to a serious booze habit.
Visit a local bar or two, they are amazing, yes shake a few hands, if he's male and so are you, women won't be so keen. learn how to respond to Salam Alikum (the phonetics are easier to understand and for me to write).
Don't asssume everyone is out to rip you off, they're not. there are nice people everywhere, they're just a lot rarer on a tourist strip and whose fault is that?
