The Agricultural and Forest Products of British West Africa

PART V. Nigeria—Northern Provinces 120-164

NIGERIA—NORTHERN PROVINCES 120-164

INDEX 165-176

=LIST OF MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS=

SKETCH MAP OF BRITISH WEST AFRICA Frontispiece

GAMBIA AND SIERRA LEONE OPPOSITE PAGE

JOLAH WITH NATIVE HAND-PLOUGH, BULLELAI, FOGNI 3

CANARY ISLAND PLOUGH, AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, ABUKO 3

RUBBER TREE (Ficus vogelii) AT BATHURST 3

RUBBER VINE (Landolphia heudelotii) AT KOTOO 9

CEARA RUBBER TREE (Manihot glaziovii) AT BAKAU 9

RUBBER TREE (Castilloa elastica) AT KOTOO 9

FRUITS OF OIL PALMS, SIERRA LEONE 13

SWEET CASSAVA, WITH BAOBAB TREES, BAKAU 13

INDIGO DYERS, MCCARTHY ISLAND 13

SKETCH MAP OF GAMBIA AND SIERRA LEONE 15

OIL PALMS (Elæis guineensis), MAFOKOYIA 21

NATIVE COLLECTING OIL PALM FRUIT, BLAMA 21

KOLA TREE AT MANO 21

NATIVE WEAVER AT PENDEMBU 35

GOLD COAST

KUMASSI, THE CAPITAL OF ASHANTI 35

STONE VAT FOR POUNDING PALM FRUITS, WITH SURROUNDING 35 GUTTER AND OIL WELL, KROBO PLANTATIONS

SKETCH MAP OF GOLD COAST 43

COCOA AT MRAMRA ATTACKED BY BLACK COCOA-BARK BUG 51

DRYING COCOA BEANS AT MRAMRA 51

NATIVE TAPPING INDIGENOUS RUBBER TREE (Funtumia 51 elastica), OBOAMANG, ASHANTI

“ODUM” TREES (Chlorophora excelsa) 61

PARA RUBBER TREE (Hevea brasiliensis), TAPPED AT ABURI 61

RUBBER TREE TAPPED, HERRING-BONE SYSTEM IMPERFECT, ABURI 61

NIGERIA—SOUTHERN PROVINCES

SKETCH MAP OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA 93

STRAINING OIL FROM THE FIBROUS PULP OF THE OIL PALM, 97 OSHOGBO

COTTON BALES, MARLBOROUGH GINNERY, IBADAN 97

AFARA TREE (Terminalia superba) AT OLOKOMEJI 97

DWARF CATTLE, ILLARA 119

OWO 119

NIGERIA—NORTHERN PROVINCES

HAUSSA CULTIVATING IMPLEMENTS (LEFT TO RIGHT: I. 119 FATAINYA, II. GARMA, III. SANGUMI), NORTHERN PROVINCES

SKETCH MAP OF NORTHERN NIGERIA 120

SHEA-BUTTER TREE (Butyrospermum Parkii), WITH 130 NUT-COLLECTORS, ILORIN

YIELDING GUM TREE (Acacia caffra) AT KONTAGORA 130

LOCUST-BEAN TREE (Parkia filicoidea) AT ILORIN 130

VILLAGE OF FOGOLA, BUILT OF GUINEA-CORN STALKS 137

OUTSIDE THE EMIR’S PALACE, KANO 137

NEAR THE SOUTHERN GATE, ZARIA 137

BRITISH COTTON GROWING ASSOCIATION GINNERY, OGUDU, ILORIN 155

GWARI TOWN, OPPOSITE MINNA, SOUTH OF ZARIA 155

COW FULANI WOMAN SELLING MILK AT GWARI 155

=THE GAMBIA=

=INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.= =Geographical Position.=—The Gambia Colony and Protectorate consists of a narrow tract of country following the winding course of the river from which it takes its name, for a distance of about 250 miles, and extending approximately four miles from the river on both banks.

The whole country lies between 12° 10′ and 13° 15′ north latitude and 13° 50′ and 16° 40′ west longitude. It is the most northerly of the British West African possessions.

=Area and Population.=—The extent of territory is said to be 3,619 square miles, much of which consists of low-lying land intersected by creeks and rivers, which under tidal influence are often densely afforested with mangroves.

According to the census of 1911 the Colony and Protectorate had populations of 7,700 and 138,401 respectively, totalling 146,101. The total of 90,404 given in the previous census is now admitted to have been below the actual amount. A large migratory farming community exists, coming annually from the adjoining countries, for the purpose of raising groundnut crops. This in 1911 numbered 3,367. Many of these immigrants are reported to have remained and established themselves permanently under the British flag.

=Tribes.=—The principal tribes inhabiting the Gambia are the Mandingoes, Foulahs, Joloffs, and Jolahs. The first-named are the most numerous, and are, generally speaking, Mohammedans, although there are many “Sonninkis” or spirit drinkers among them. The Foulahs are identical with the Fulanis of the Gold Coast and Northern Nigeria, and are frequently fair-skinned without negroid features. They are said to be strictly Mohammedan, and to have originated from the country near the source of the Senegal river. The Joloffs occupy the northern bank of the Gambia river, and extend well into Senegal. The Jolahs inhabit the province of Fogni, and spread into the confines of French territory towards the Casamance river. They are a curious race, given to living in small family villages, and are said to be vindictive. They are of a lower type than the three other tribes mentioned, and are jealous of their rights.

=Political Divisions.=—The Protectorate is divided into five districts, each under the control of a Travelling Commissioner. These districts are named in accordance with their positions: North Bank, South Bank, M‘Carthy Island, Kommbo and Fogni, and Upper River.

=Natural Conditions.=—The climatic conditions of the country are favourable to the breeding of cattle and horses, although in the vicinity of the river and creeks two species of tsetse fly are common. By carefully preventing animals from straying into these infested tracts the spread of fly-borne disease is held in check, and cases are comparatively rare.

During the dry season, which often occupies seven months in the year, from November to May, the highest maximum and the lowest minimum temperatures are recorded; the range being from 41° (lowest minimum, March 1909) to 105° (highest maximum, March 1909 and April 1911). The rainfall, of which official records are kept at Bathurst, varies considerably, as the following extract will serve to show:

1901 45·31 inches 1910 44·00 inches 1902 29·42 „ 1911 28·14 „ 1903 57·13 „ 1912 33·99 „ 1904 38·02 „ 1913 23·68 „ 1905 66·07 „ 1914 48·91 „ 1906 64·36 „ 1915 47·64 „ 1907 34·00 „ 1916 38·02 „ 1908 43·54 „ 1917 37·68 „ 1909 56·59 „ 1918 54·03 „

=Soil.=—The soil generally is of a light sandy nature, becoming stiffer as the undulating regions of the upper river are approached. The low countries are subject to flood in the rainy season, and are only favourable for rice cultivation.

Fig. 1, p. 3.]

Fig. 2, p. 3.]

Fig. 3, p. 9.]

=Chief Crops.=—The country is rather sparsely populated, but, on the whole, the people are fair cultivators and prepare their lands in a careful manner. Practically the only crop grown for export is the groundnut, monkey-nut, or earth-pea (Arachis hypogæa), which forms by far the most important article of cultivation. Alternating this with the staple food-crops of the country, namely, guinea-corn, maize, millet, and cassava, a fairly useful form of rotation is obtained.

=Implements.=—Cultivation among the Mandingoes and Joloffs is performed by means of a large wooden-bladed, iron-shod hoe, with which the loose earth ridges are thrown up. A small iron hoe is used for keeping down weeds and clearing. In the Jolah country a handplough is employed, consisting of a flat blade attached to a pole, and pushed in front of the operator, so as to throw up a shallow ridge. This is shown in the picture which represents a native with the implement at Bullelai (Fig. 1).

=Ploughing.=—Cattle are plentiful, even to the extent of there being an insufficiency of fodder for them in the dry season in some localities. They are chiefly kept for the purpose of displaying the wealth of their owners, and are not employed for any kind of farm work. Notwithstanding the shortage of manual labour and the successful demonstrations made by the Government, through the agency of the Roman Catholic Fathers at the Abuko Agricultural School, to prove the value of substituting animal draught for manual labour in tilling the land, the prejudice on the part of the natives against the use of their cattle for ploughing or cartage has not been overcome. A photograph is given showing a native with a Canary Island plough drawn by locally-trained bullocks (Fig. 2). Owing to the failure attending the efforts to introduce ploughing and cattle breeding at Abuko, where, for the latter purpose, some Ayrshire bulls were provided, the Govermnent withdrew the provisional subsidy in 1911.

=Land Tenure.=—Land ownership is hereditary and descends from father to son among the Mandingoes and Joloffs. No fees are paid or presents given to chiefs when a transfer is made. Europeans can rent land from Government in cases where it is not held or claimed by a native. Grants are apparently issued for various periods, but freehold rights are not given.

The rules regarding the itinerant, so-called “strange farmers,” who annually visit the country to plant groundnuts, vary to some extent in different parts of the Protectorate. Where hereditary ruling chiefs exist, a tax of 4s. per head is paid to them. In other places, half of this tax goes to Government, one-quarter to the chief, and one-quarter to the farmer’s landlord. The landowner generally gives the groundnut seed and food as well as a piece of land to be cultivated. In payment for the seed and food, it is a rule to give one-tenth of the crop. During the time the strange farmer is in occupation he is expected to give one or two days’ work each week on the landowner’s own farm.

=Labour.=—There is no fixed rate paid by the Government for labour. All the work on a farm is done by the owner and his own boys, but occasionally others come in to assist from the neighbouring farms, but no payment is made—only a present of kolas being usually given.

=Agricultural Schools.=—An agricultural school, previously referred to, was started at Abuko, near Lammin, under the Roman Catholic Fathers there, and a subsidy was granted by the Government especially for the purpose of educating the sons of large cultivators and chiefs in the use of ploughs and other labour-saving implements. A stipulation was made that the work should be inspected by a Government officer from time to time.

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