Fritsch (Dr. Gust.), Die Eingeborenen Süd-Afrika's ethnographisch und anatomisch beschrieben. 4. Breslau, 1872. Gillmore (Parker), The Great Thirst Land. A Ride through Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal, and Kalahari Desert. 8. London. 1878. Hall (H.), Manual of South African Geography. 8. Capetown, 1866. Payton (Ch. A.), The Diamond Diggings of South Africa. 8. London, 1872. Robinson (John), Notes on Natal. 8. Durban, 1872. Silver (S. W.), Handbook to South Africa, including the Cape Colony, Natal, the Diamond Fields, &c. 8. London, 1876. Handbook to the Transvaal. 8. London, 1880. Statham (F. R.), Blacks, Boers, and British. London, 1882. NIGER DISTRICT PROTECTORATE. From the western boundary of the colony of Lagos, near the river Benin, to the German boundary on the Rio del Rey, north of Cameroons, the entire coast, about 380 miles, and vast inland regions not yet accurately defined, are under British protection. According to the Anglo-French Agreement of August 5, 1890, the limit between the British and French spheres on the Niger is a line from Say, on the Niger, to Barrawa on Lake Chad, 'drawn in such a manner as to comprise in the sphere of the Niger Company all that fairly belongs to the Kingdom of Sokoto, the line to be determined by Commissioners to be appointed.' This protectorate is divided into two separate systems: (a) the Niger Territories, (b) the Oil Rivers District. Total area of Niger Territories and Oil Rivers 500,000 square miles; population, 17,000,000. The Niger Territories.-These are governed by the Royal Niger Company, under a charter issued on July 10, 1886. Its nominal capital of 1,000,000l. is fully subscribed, and it has powers to increase indefinitely. Its foundation dates from 1882, when it was formed under the name of The National African Company, Limited, with the object of obtaining these regions for Great Britain. This was effected bymeans of about 300 treaties with native States and tribes, including the territories of Sokoto and Gando. SOKOTO.-At present the empire of Sokoto (attached by treaty to the Royal Niger Company) is the largest, the most populous, and extensive in the whole of the Sudan. Since the overthrow of the Haussa power early in the present century, the conquering Fulahs have gradually reduced all the former Haussa States between Lake Tsad and the Niger, and have also extended their sway southwards to Adamawa and westwards to the riverain tracts along the right bank of the Niger. The king of Gando, in the middle Niger Valley, as well as all the other Fulah chiefs, recognise the suzerainty of the Emperor of Sokoto, who is a direct descendant of Sheikh Dam-Fodié Othman, founder of the Fulah dynasty in 1802. On the other hand, the reigning sovereign, whose special title is Seriki n' Musulmya, 'Lord of the Mussulmans,' has irrevocably conferred on the Royal Niger Company full sovereign power throughout a large part of his dominions, and complete jurisdiction, civil, criminal, and fiscal, over nonnatives throughout the remainder. Sokoto and Gando together cover an area of 219,500 square miles, with a population of 15,00,000. The empire, which is conterminous on the east with Bornu, on the west with the Yoruba and Mossi countries, and stretches from the Sahara southwards to the unexplored regions beyond Adamawa, is especially rich in agricultural resources, exporting considerable quantities of rice (the chief cereal) and other grains, besides onions of excellent flavour, the fruit of the butter tree, the parched seeds of the doria, dates, and honey. Cotton is largely grown, and manufactured into a durable material, coloured with indigo and other native NIGER DISTRICT PROTECTORATE 187 dyes. Much leather ware (shoes, sandals, pouches, harness) is also ex ported in exchange for salt from the Sahara and European goods. The emperor exercises direct jurisdiction over only a comparatively small portion of his dominions, most of which are ruled by vassal kings and chiefs enjoying royal prerogatives, and attached to the central government only by payment of the annual tribute. The Niger Company has forestalled any questions as to title or sovereignty by making alternative treaties with these vassal kings. There is a ministry, or council of State officials, comprising in their order of precedence the ghaladima, or prime minister, the commander of the infantry, the cadi, or chief judge, the heir to the throne, the chief of the slaves, and the treasurer. A considerable revenue is levied by direct taxation and tribute from the vassal States. The army is estimated at about 90,000 infantry and 30,000 cavalry, but these forces are scattered over the various vassal provinces and are mainly raised and controlled by the vassal kings. Wurno is the present capital, on the river Gandi, population 15,000. Besides these places there are a great many other large centres of population and busy market towns, such as Gando, capital of the kingdom of Gando; Yola, capital of Adamawa, population 12,000; Kano, 35,000; Bida, 90,000; Gerki, 15,000; Kebbi, 22,000; Yakoba, 50,000; Tessawa, 12,000; Katsena, 7,500; Gurin, 12,000; Duku, 15,000. Fulah is the official language, but Haussa is the chief medium of intercourse throughout the empire, and in many places beyond its limits. Islam is the religion of the dominant class, but paganism still prevails largely throughout the empire. The company has lately obtained similar powers and rights from the powerful kingdom of Borgu to the west of the Middle Niger, and to the north of Dahomey. The present capital of the Niger Territories is at Asaba, where the chief justice of the supreme court resides, and where are also the central prison, civil and military hospitals, and other public buildings. The headquarters of the company's military force are at Lokoga. The other principal settlements are at Akassa (port of entry), Abo, Abutshi, Atani, Bakundi, Donga, Egga, Ibi, Idah, Leaba, Loko, Odeni, and Ribago, the last being only about 200 miles from Lake Chad. The trade in these inland territories is as yet in its infancy, the exports having been 225,0007. in 1887, 230,0007. in 1888, and 260,0007. in 1889. The principal exports are gums, hides, india-rubber, ivory, kernels, palm oil, and vegetable butter, but a great variety of minor products are also exported. Considerable plantations of coffee and cocoa have been started, and a botanic garden created. The imports are very varied, the principal items being cottons, silks, woollens, earthenware, hardware, beads, tobacco, and salt. Heavy duties have been imposed by the company on spirits and gunpowder. The importation of spirits into regions north of latitude 7° N. (stated to form nineteen-twentieths of the Territories) is now prohibited. Tobacco and salt are also taxed. All other imports are free. The revenue is principally raised by export duties. No trustworthy estimate can be formed of the population of the Territories. The government is conducted by the Council in London, of which the president is Lord Aberdare. The Oil Rivers District.—This important region occupies the whole of the coast line between Lagos and Cameroons, excepting that falling within the Niger Territories. Fully nineteen-twentieths of the extensive trade are in the hands of British merchants, who have been established there for a great number of years. The total value of this trade is enhanced considerably by the increased prices ruling last year for palm kernels and the principal export, palm oil. The average of the exports for the preceding three years was 1,032,8007. per annum, and the import trade 786,500l., much of both amounts being with Hamburg, Rotterdam, and other Continental ports. The chief products exported are palm oil, palm kernels, india-rubber, ivory, ebony, camwood, indigo, gums, barwood, hides, and a little cacao; and the imports consist of cloth, calico, hardware, spirits, tobacco, gunpowder, guns, rice, bread, salt, pickled meat, matchets, soap, pottery, and fancy articles. The leading trade stations in the Oil Rivers District are Old Calabar (Duke Town and Creek Town), Qua Eboe, Opobo (town) and Azumeri, Ohumbela, Ogogo, Esséne, &c. (interior Opobo); New Calabar-including Degama, Bakana, Buguma, Okrika, &c. ---Bonny, Brass, Warri, Benin. No trustworthy estimate can be formed of the population of this district. The majority of the merchants trading in the Oil Rivers amalgamated last year into the African Association, Limited, of Liverpool, with a nominal capital of 2,000,0007., with power to increase as far as 5,000,000ễ. The subscribed capital is stated as 500,0007. An arrangement has been made for the government of the Oil Rivers District, which is supervised by a British Consul-General. The District was placed under British protectorate by treaties made in 1884 by Edward Hyde Hewett, Esq., C.M.G., who was then and is still Consul for the Bights of Benin and Biafra. Imperial Commissioner.-Major Claude MacDonald. BOOKS OF REFERENCE. Travels of Clapperton, R. Lander, Richardson, Barth, Rohlfs. Joseph Thomson, papers in 'Good Words' (1886), British Association (1886), and Proc. R. Geographical Soc. (1886). Flegel, Mittheilungen der Afrikanischen Gesellschaft in Deutschland, vol. iii. 1881-83. Hutchinson, Narrative of the Niger, Tshadda, and Binué Exploration. Johnston (H. H.), Paper in Proceedings R. G. S., 1888. Rev. Hugh Goldie : Old Calabar and its Mission, 1890. Governor.-Wm. Grey-Wilson, Esq. (5007.), assisted by a council of five. St. Helena, of volcanic origin, is about 800 miles from Ascension Island, the nearest land, and 1,200 from the west coast of Africa. Its importance as a port of call was greatly lessened by the opening of the overland route to India, and also by the Suez Canal. Area, 47 square miles. Population, 5,059 in 1881,'5,000 in 1889; in 1881 there were included (exclusive of military, 250) 126 English, and 4,315 natives. Births, 1889, 126; deaths, 50; marriages, 36. Emigrants about 200 annually to the Cape and United States. Four Episcopal, 3 Baptist, 1 Roman Catholic chapels. Education, 11 schools, with 837 pupils; 4 of the schools receiving a Government grant of 3637. in 1889. The following tables give statistics for St. Helena : ST. HELENA—TRISTAN D'ACUNHA These figures do not include the produce of the whale-fishery. 189 A savings-bank with 8,0607. deposits. Total estimated value of island wealth, 200,0007. Public debt, 1,2507. The exports to Great Britain in 1889 were 2,7871.; imports from Great Britain, 11,7751. There is a valuable whale-fishery at St. Helena, under American management, the results varying from 13,000l. to 30,000l. yearly. There are no industrial products; island mainly pasture. The tonnage of all vessels entered and cleared, and of British vessels entered and cleared: The Post Office traffic from St. Helena in 1889: 15,525 letters, 2,674 books and papers, 830 parcels. There are 13 miles of telegraph wire. St. Helena is largely used as a recruiting station for the West African Squadron. Detachment of Royal Artillery, I company of infantry; 4 heavy guns on height over port. BOOKS OF REFERENCE. Brooke's History of St. Helena. Melliss's Physical and Topographical Description of St. Helena. Colonial Office Papers, Africa, No. 275. Annual Reports of the Governor. A small group of islands in the Atlantic, half-way between the Cape and S. America, in 37° 6' S. lat. Until the death of Napoleon I. they were occupied by a garrison. Besides Tristan d'Acunha and Gough's Island, there are Inaccessible and Nightingale Islands, the former two and the latter one mile long, and a number of rocks. The population, mainly the families of shipwrecked sailors and wives from St. Helena, numbered about 100 in 1889. They have sheep and cattle, potatoes are cultivated, and provisions sent at intervals by the British Government. WEST AFRICAN COLONIES. These are four in number, all Crown colonies: GOLD COAST, LAGOS, GAMBIA, and SIERRA LEONE. The Gold Coast stretches for 350 miles along the Gulf of Guinea, between 3° 30′ W. long., and 1° 30′ E. long. Governor, Sir W. B. Griffith, K.C.M.G. (3,5007.). There are an Executive and Legislative Council, both nominated, with two unofficial members in latter. Area, 15,000 square miles, including protectorate, 46,600. Estimated population, 1,905,000; of whom 100 are Europeans. Chief towns: Accra, 20,000; Ada, 7,000; Elmina, 6,000; Cape Coast Castle, 25,000; Kwitta, Saltford, and Winneba. Government elementary schools at Accra and Cape Coast, but education mainly in the hands of the various religious bodies, Wesleyan, Roman Catholic, and German Missions; about 5,000 Protestant scholars; Government contributed 9167. in 1889. Staple products and exports, palm oil and palm kernels; indiarubber abounds, and its export is increasing. Gold found in many parts and now being worked. Telegraphs 175 miles. Lagos, an island on the Slave Coast to the east of the Gold Coast, the protectorate extending along the coast between. 2° and 6° E. long., and for some distance inland. Governor, Sir Alfred Moloney, K.C.M.G. (2,2507.). Executive and Legislative Councils, nominated. Area, including protectorate, 1,071 square miles; estimated population, 100,000, including about 110 whites. Including Yoruba, area 20,070 square miles; population, 3,000,000; Christians, 6,000; Mohammedans, 12,000; the rest Pagans. 34 schools; 2,500 pupils; exclusive of Mohammedan schools. Principal products and exports: palm oil and kernels, ivory, gum copal, and cotton. Chief imports: spirits, tobacco, cotton goods, hardware. Trade mainly with Great Britain, Brazil, and Germany. Gambia, at the mouth of the river Gambia, formerly formed part of the West African Settlements, but in December 1888 was erected into an independent colony. Administrator, Gilbert T. Carter, C.M.G. (1,1007.). Legislative Council nominated. 2,700 square miles, population, 50,000. Area of settlement proper, 69 square miles; population (1881), 14,150, including 41 whites. 5,300 Mohammedans, 2,385 Christians (Protestants and Roman Catholics); 12 schools, with 1,200 pupils; Government grant, proportionate to results (1889, 2477.). Births (1889), 369; deaths, 532; but the registration of births is very imperfect. There were 127 summary convictions in 1889, and 44 cases committed to superior courts. Chief town, Bathurst, on the island of St. Mary, 6,000 inhabitants. Chief products and exports: ground nuts, hides, bees-wax, rice, cotton, corn, india-rubber. Sierra Leone includes the island of Sherbro, and much adjoining territory. Governor, Sir James Shaw Hay, K.C.M.G. (2,5007.); assisted by Executive and Legislative Councils, nominated. It extends from the Scarcies River to the north, to the border of Liberia in the south, 180 miles. Area, 15,000 square miles; population, 180,000 Sierra Leone proper, 300 square miles; population (1889), 75,000 of whom 270 are whites. Protestants (1881), 39,048; Catholics, 369; Mohammedans, 5,178; the rest Pagans. In 1889, 81 elementary and 6 high schools, with 10,141 pupils; grant in aid, 7627. Fourah Bay College is affiliated to the University of Durham. Chief town, Freetown, 22,000 inhabitants-headquarters of H.M.'s forces in West Africa, 800 men of the West India Regiment, besides engineers and artillery. Armed constabulary force of 400 men chiefly for frontier defence. Freetown is a second-class coaling station, with an excellent harbour fortified with several batteries of heavy guns. There is a supreme court, and police and petty debt courts in each district; offences in 1889, 2,158. Chief products and exports: palm oil and kernels, benni seed, ground nuts, kola nuts, indiarubber, copal, hides. Many skilled workers in gold and silver. Trade considerably diminished owing to activity of the French in their neighbouring colonies. Government savings banks with 14,1787. deposited in 1889. The West African Bank is established in the colony. There are good roads, and much traffic on the many lagoons and canals. |