Nigeria and its tin fields

Preface

The present conspicuous position which Northern Nigeria holds in the public eye is of very recent attainment, and its development has been, comparatively speaking, the work of a moment. The discovery of tin in paying quantities within its boundaries is the secret of its sudden leap to an eminence from which it compels interest,and attracts to itself more than ordinary curiosity and attention. It is with Northern Nigeria as it was with New South Wales and California, with the Malay Peninsula and Rhodesia. Their potentialities were admitted long before the existence of their mineral wealth was made known, but it was not until their minerals were discovered that they loomed into absorbing prominence.

The importance of Northern Nigeria as a British possession was demonstrated by the Niger Company; her possibilities as an exporter of cotton, rubber, and other vegetable products were early admitted ; but it needed the revelation of her enorvi

PREFACE mous alluvial tin deposits in the Province of Bauchi to attract to the development of her resources the capital and enterprise which alone can ensure the growth of a country's commerce.

But this sudden and surprising discovery also served to expose the widespread ignorance which prevailed in connection with our newest Protectorate, while it generated a desire for information concerning it. This little volume is put forward to satisfy this new-felt want, and it has, I think, the merit of being the first issued with that object. It has been compiled in haste, but care has been taken to verify the facts, and, as far as possible, the data has been derived from official sources.

I believe that no apology will be required for the illustrations, but for the use of the photographs from which they were produced I tender my grateful and sincere thanks to his Excellency Sir Walter Egerton, K.C.M.G., Governor and High Commissioner of Southern Nigeria ; Sir William Wallace, K.C.M.G., late Acting Governor of Northern Nigeria ; Mr. H. W. Laws, Engineer to the Niger Company ; Mr. C. G. Lush, Consulting Engineer to the principal Nigerian Tin Companies ; Mr. S. R. Bastard, Chairman and Director of

PREFACE vii several of the most important Nigerian tin mining companies ; the Editor of the Engineer, Mr. R. Ernest Hope ; Messrs. John Holt & Co., Ltd. ; Mr. G. W. Christian ; Messrs. E. H. Stein & Co., Ltd., and other prominent traders in Northern Nigeria.

A. F. CALVERT.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Part of Marina, Lagos, Southern Nigeria ... 1

Marina, showing Customs, Lagos, Southern Nigera . 2

Lagos. Amongst the Palms 4

Bird's-eye View showing Marina and Town, Lagos . 5

A portion of Lagos Town from Roof of New Mosque . 6

West End of Lagos from the French Factory . . 8

Steam Tram, Marina, Lagos ..... 9

Business Premises, Marina, Lagos . . . .11

Part of Marina, Lagos . 12

The Marina, Lagos 13

Club House, Lagos 14

Post Office, Lagos 15

Government House, Lagos 16

Public Wash " Houses," Lagos 17

Public Washing Place, Elegrata, Lagos . . .18

Railway, Iddo 19

Yams (potatoes) on the Beach, Lagos .... 20

Fruit Market, Lagos .21

Corner of Market, Lagos .22

Iddo Station, Lagos 23

Railway Engine, Iddo ....... 24

Fulani Sheep, Lagos ....... 25

Bullock Cart ......... 26

Forcados, Southern Nigeria ...... 27

"Sir Alfred" Dry Dock, Forcados .... 28

Botanical Gardens, Ebute Metta, Lagos ... 29

Botanical Gardens, Ebute Metta, Lagos ... 30 Railway Crossing, Ebute Metta, Lagos . . -31

On the Road to Ebute Metta, Lagos .... 32

The Market, Burutu, Southern Nigeria . 33

ix x LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Burutu Market 34

Government Boat at Burutu 35

Palm Oil Stores, Burutu 36

Hospital, Burutu 37

Kwa River, Calabar Motor Boat ** Spider," Draught

9 inches 38

Two Jakrie Women, Burutu, Southern Nigeria . . 39

Jakrie Chief and one of his Wives ... 40

Large " Cotton Tree" at Okuni, Cross River . . 41

Jakrie Woman, Burutu 42

Chief Okrododo and two of his Sons, Burutu . . 43 Chief Okrododo, his Sons and Daughters : Jakrie

Tribe, Burutu 44

Native Dancers at Awka in the Onitsha Hinterland,

between Niger and the Cross River ... 45

Native Market at Itu on Cross River .... 46

A Landing-place on Cross River 47

On the Ewayong, a Tributary of the Cross River . 48 A Bridge over Auja River near Ogoja . . . -49

Bridge built of Vines by Pagans . . . . 50

The " Spider" at Itu 51

Oshogbo Railway Station : Lady Egerton and District

Commissioner Mr. Gladstone, in Foreground . 52

Cocoanut and Banana Palms 53

Sir Walter Egerton, Lady Egerton, Capt. Lawrence,

Private Secretary, Capt. Lloyd, A.D.C. . . 54

Lower Niger . . , 55

Lower Niger . 56

On the Banks of the Lower Niger $7

Shipping Rubber, Lower Niger 58

Village on the Lower Niger 59

Idah, River Niger 60

Messrs. G. W. Christian's Store at Idah, Niger River 61

Ejaws : Village Scene, Lower Niger .... 62

Bridge of Sighs, Lokoja, Northern Nigeria ... 63

Main Street, Lokoja Market 64

Native Judge or Alkale at Lokoja (A Copy of the

Koran on his Lap) .... ^ . 65

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xi

Asaba Boys, Southern Nigeria ..... 66

" Boys " who work the Cargo 67

Shipping Cotton, Lokoja, Northern Nigeria . . 68

Niger Company's Depot at Lokoja .... 69

Produce Stores, Lokoja 70

Yams on the Beach, Lokoja 75

At the River-side, Lokoja 76

Marine Bungalow, Lokoja 79

European Hospital, Lokoja 80

Canteen at Lokoja 81

Bank, Lokoja 82

King Abiga, Lokoja, Northern Nigeria ... 83

Devil Man, Lokoja 84

Camp Road, Lokoja 88

Barracks, Lokoja 89

The Serrikin (King of Lokoja) and his Chiefs at the

King's House 90

Meat Market, Lokoja 91

Guard on Government Treasury, Lokoja ... 92

Messrs. Christian's Store, Lokoja 93

Coming in from the Country, Lokoja .... 95

Bridge of Sighs, Lokoja 97

Government Officials and others watching Gymkana,

Hausa Women Hairdressing, Lokoja, Northern

Nigeria . 99

Barbers, Lokoja Market 100

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Native Barber .... . . . . 101

102 103 104 105 106 107

Preparing Foofoo (Crushed Yams), Lokoja . Children at Play, Lokoja .....

Children in the Market, Lokoja, Northern Nigeria

Washing up, River Nigeria

A Quarrel, Lokoja Market .....

Washing Day on the Niger River, Northern Nigeria Native Trading Canoe, Upper Niger, Northern Nigeria 108 Group of Hausa and Nupe Chiefs (Serrikin of Lokoja

in Centre) 109

Black Bluejackets on the Government River Steamer

"Kapelli" no

S. W. " Ndoni " (Cargo Boat) on the Niger River . in " Halstead" (Cargo Boat) on Niger River , . .112 High Commissioner's Yacht " Corona" on the Niger . 113

Hausa Canoe .114

Chiefs Canoe being saluted on the Niger . . -115 Nupe Town of Egga on the Niger . . . .116

Egga, Northern Nigeria 117

Egbohu, Northern Nigeria, Landing-place of Expedition against Beda . . . . . . .118

Part of Rabba Village, Northern Nigeria . . .119

Unloading Salt, Jebba 120

Loading Steamer, Jebba . . . . • .121 The S.S. " Scarborough" at Jeba .... 122 Looking up the Niger from Jebba .... 123 Mohammedan Mosque, Northern Nigeria . . .124

Palm Village, Northern Nigeria 125

Shonga, Northern Nigeria . . . . . .126

Fulani Cattle, Northern Nigeria 127

On the Benue River 128

Camping on Benue River . . . . . .129

Market at Lamugo, near Keni 130

Cowrie Men paying Carriers per Basket . . -131

Making Lama Mats 132

Making Stools 133

Grinding Guinea Corn 134

Jukums at Abinsi 1 35

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xiii

The Emir of Kano. (Now a Prisoner in Lokoja.

Was the cause of the Kano Rising in 1907) . .136 Three Hausa Traders with Bundles of Skins from Kano 137

Cattle, near Nafada 138

Camels at Nafada . . . . . . . 139

Selling Cotton in Nafada Market . . . .140

Chief of Kanam 141

Head Men in Vom 142

Miango Chief and Head Men (Ex-Chief on Left) . 143

Chief of Wase 144

Camps in Hos 145

Hausa Loom 146

Second Chief at Ibi 147

Wase Rock 148

Amo Men , . . 149

Kabba Boy 151

Hausa Woman 152

Hausa Boy 153

Brother Healy and some of his Pupils, Onitsha . .154 View on the Niger River . . . . . 155 Messrs. G. W. Christian's Store, Onitsha . . .156

Sir William Wallace, K.C.M.G 1 57

Mr. S. R. Bastard 158

Mr. Laws in front of Office with Bars of Tin ready for

Transport 159

First Camp at the Tin Mines, Naraguta . . . 160

Naraguta Camp 161

Part of the Fuel Market, Bauchi . . . . .162 Surveying Party at Juga . . . . . -163 Pagans paying a Visit to discuss Matters at Jos . . 164 Pagans bringing in a Present, Jos .... 165 Naraguta. Pagans coming in for Tin Loads to Jer-

mann. (We were fighting them a year before) . 166

Carriers leaving Naraguta Camp 167

Carriers crossing Delimi River 168

Naraguta. 190 Bars of Tin leaving Camp by Asab

Pagans . . 169 xiv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

A Camp. Survey Camp at Jos . . . . .170 Horses being brought as Tax . . . . .171 Part of actual Working Face, Naraguta . . .172 Launders at end of Tail Race at River's Edge, Naraguta 173

Naraguta. Making Dam 174

Naraguta. Construction of Dam. Rukubar Pagans . 175 Naraguta. View showing Back of Dam . . .176

Naraguta Dam 177

Naraguta. Four Sluice-boxes in Labourers' Creek . 181

Naraguta. View of Sluice-boxes, Labourers' Creek . 183 Naraguta. Moving Boxes to Face of Stope, Bala's

Naraguta. Two Sluice-boxes 185

Naraguta Camp 188

Opening Foot-bridge, Delimi River, Naraguta . .189 Labourers' Camp on the Tin Fields . . . .190 Naraguta. Tin-workers working the Bed of the River

in dry season 191

Naraguta. Construction of Leat by Rukubar Pagans 192 Naraguta. Construction of Leat by Rukubar Pagans 193 Washing Tin in Delimi River, Naraguta . . . 194

Delimi River 195

View of Delimi River between Naraguta and Jos . 196 Naraguta. View showing Flood-boxes on Leat . . 197

A Camp 199

Naraguta. Tributers washing Tin .... 200

Naraguta. Half-length new Main Tail Race . . 202 Naraguta. No. 2. Looking up Main Tail Race . 203 Naraguta. Lower View, No. 2, Main Tail Race . 204

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xv

Naraguta. Close to Main Working Face, No. 2 Stope 205 Naraguta. Tin Mining. Yorubus Working in the

Ground 206

Troops leaving Naraguta Camp for Bauchi , . 207 Nafuta Gorge, looking towards Juga. The Juga

River runs down the centre and passes to the

Nafuta Flats 208

Nafuta Gorge. The River at this point is lost to

sight to thirty feet below the big boulders in the

middle of the Ravine 209

Proposed Dam Site, Juga 210

Prospecting on Dubbo or Topaz Valley . . .211

Mr. C. G. Lush's Camp at Juga 212

Camp of Messrs. Lush, Huddart and Walter Wethered 213 Messrs. Huddart and Lush prospecting on one of the

Creeks of the Dubbo or Topaz Valley Property . 214 Face of Alluvial, 16 feet deep, averaging about 6 lbs.

of Tin per cubic yard; Dubbo or Topaz Valley

Mine 215

Juga Camp : Pay-day 216

Rafinsiroma Camp 217

Rafinsiroma Dam, looking south-east . . . .218 House-building, Rafinsiroma Tin Mines . . .219

A Group of Natives 220

View in Amo . 221

A View in Vom , 222

Mr. G. W. Christian, a Nigerian Trader . . . 223

Steamers discharging at Baro 224

Baro Yard 225

Baro Beach just before the Railway was begun : Baro-

Kano Railway 226

Setting out Earthwork at Patatifi, Baro-Kano Line . 227 Temporary Bridge over the Bakogi River, Baro-Kano

Line 228

Engine of the Emir Class on Steel Bridge, Baro-Kano

Line 229

Earthwork in Progress, Baro-Kano Line . . . 230

Straightening Road at Railhead, Baro-Kano Line . 231

XVI

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Niger End of the Line : View from Baro Hill . . 232

Mr. H. W. Laws, Engineer to the Niger Company . 234 Map of Southern Nigeria 235

Map showing Route of Railway from Baro to Rigachika, 237 Map showing Railway and Roads to Tin Fields . . 238 Alluvial Tin Districts in the Bauchi Province . . 239 Plan of the Naraguta Tin Mines showing Workings . 240 Properties of the Juga (Nigeria) Tin & Power Company, Limited 241

Properties of the Lucky Chance Mines, Limited, in the

Dubbo District 242

The Dubbo or Topaz Valley Property, belonging to

the Lucky Chance Mines, Limited . . . 243 Rafinsiroma Tin Property, belonging to the Lucky

Chance Mines, Limited 244

The Polchi Alluvial Tin Property, belonging to the

Lucky Chance Mines, Limited .... 245 The Bilidi Alluvial Tin Property, belonging to the

Lucky Chance Mines, Limited .... 246 The Federri Alluvial Tin Property, the Tin Fields of

Northern Nigeria, Limited 247

Doss or Dila Tin Property, the Tin Fields of Northern

Nigeria, Limited 248

The Kurdum River Alluvial Tin Area .... 249 The Rein, Forum, Ribon, and Kurdum Alluvial Tin

Areas 250

The Rein Alluvial Tin Area 251

The Farum Alluvial Tin Area 252

The Shen Alluvial Tin Area 253

South Bukeru Tin Area 254

Juga District , 255

Gel Tin Lode and Alluvial Company .... 256

The Northern Nigeria (Bauchi) Tin Mines . . . 257

Route from Minna to Tin Fields 258

New road from Railhead to Tin Fields . . . 259

General View of Baro Station

Map of Northern Nigeria

NIGERIA &> ITS TIN FIELDS

EARLY DAYS IN NIGERIA

In 1879, when Sir George Taubman Goldie organised the amalgamation of the rival trading firms of the Lower Niger and formed the United Africa Company, only a few far-sighted people could have had any idea of the possibilities of future commercial greatness that were possessed by this utterly unattractive and uncivilised region. "The Niger," as Colonel Mockler- Ferryman tells us, " was absolutely tabooed ; its name was mentioned only in whispers, and the British public regarded it as an unlucky, pestilential spot, out of which no good could ever come." It must be remembered, in explanation of this pessimistic attitude, that all attempts to explore Nigeria and open up commerce on the river had failed more or less completely ; a great number of lives had been sacrificed in successive expeditions, and no practical good had been accomplished. McGregor

A

Laird, some quarter of a century earlier, had founded the African Shipping Company, with monthly sailings to the West African ports and, with the grudging co-operation of the Government, had contracted to keep a steamer on the Niger. But Laird died in 1857, when his spirited enterprise appeared to be on the point of yielding tangible results, and the country was still under a cloud when, twenty years later, the first organised attempt was made to develop its commercial resources.

THE PROTECTORATE PROCLAIMED

The United Africa Company's efforts were recognised by the grant of a Royal Charter in 1886, but its mission and its potentialities failed to appeal to the general public ; and even when in 1900 the Territory, with its area equal to that of Germany and the British Isles combined, was added to the Dependencies of the Empire, the new Protectorate was regarded with indifference and suspicion as a present burden and a probable source of future trouble.

That was but a decade since, yet it was only the other day that Lord Crewe declared that " there is no part of the Empire about which

THE PROTECTORATE PROCLAIMED 3 higher hopes may properly be entertained than the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria ; 99 and the Colonial Report, in emphatic corroboration of this optimistic opinion, asserted that " very few countries have witnessed such great changes for the better in such a short space of time, as has been the case with this Cinderella of the British Dominions."

It must be admitted that the Nigerias have been of late years more favoured in the matters of ocean transport and inter - communication. Since McGregor Laird started his monthly service to Lagos, the African Shipping Company has been succeeded by six shipping lines — the British and African Steam Navigation, African Steamship, Elder Dempster, Woermann, Hamburg-America, and the Hamburg-Bremen-Africa — the first three of which, to all intents and purposes, may be classed as Elder Dempster's. Twenty-five liners and Elder Dempster's regular services call at Lagos each month — one nearly every day of the week. Two vessels of some four thousand tons are exclusively employed in bringing Welsh coal to Lagos ; and a cargo service, another Elder Dempster enterprise, now runs from inside Lagos Lagoon to Hamburg, thus avoiding the transhipping of cargo in Lagos Roads or at Forcados. Persons who only know of Elder Dempsters famous service of ocean liners, which leave Liverpool every Wednesday and arrive at Lagos Roads sixteen days later, may be surprised to learn that they have a large and distinct inter-colonial service between Lagos and Secondi. These vessels, built of light draught to enable them to cross Lagos bar, not only afford shippers a short and rapid means of forwarding their produce, but are of immense service to the growing number of natives who travel, mostly for trade purposes, between Lagos and the smaller ports along the Gold Coast ; while another Elder Dempster service runs weekly to and from Porto Novo in Dahomey and Lagos, carrying general outward cargo and bringing back produce for shipment to the United Kingdom and the Continent.

These services, which cater for the ramifications of the commercial activities of West Africa, are practically unknown at home, and the organisation and development of this enormous industry was, to a great extent, the work of one man — the late Sir Alfred Lewis Jones. It has been said of him that " when the story of our times comes to be written comprehensively, he will be bracketed with Cecil John Rhodes. One obtained a large

THE PROTECTORATE PROCLAIMED 5 territory for the Empire ; the other enhanced immeasurably countries formerly judged as of questionable value. He was a pioneer in building up their commerce, and is of still higher estimate — he was instrumental in making them more fit to live in by revolutionising the health conditions/' His varied commercial enterprises in West Africa are well known, and it is unnecessary here to enlarge upon them. They ranged from coaling and engineering companies with dry docks, to banking — which facilitated relations between the natives and the European traders — and included his cold-storage scheme, which the medical faculty admit has been one of the most powerful factors in lowering the mortality of West Africa. This object was also largely assisted by the investigations carried out at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. The school was financed by Sir Alfred Jones, who also provided the means for putting the resultant discoveries into practice. He further established a branch of the School at Grand Canary, and arranged with Elder Dempster a cheap service from the West African Coast to the Canary Islands for malaria patients, whose lives depend upon their reaching that Mecca for invalids. By such means the dead merchant prince has lowered the death-rate among Europeans and natives in West

Africa to a degree unthought of fifteen years ago, and he has built in that part of the Continent a monument to his name more enduring than brass, because the foundation was made for the betterment of his fellow-men.

THE NIGER COMPANY

But if the Elder Dempster Line have accomplished great things in establishing regular communication between England and the new Dependencies, much splendid pioneer work has been done in the country by the Niger Company. During the last few years they have opened up the Bauchi tin field in Northern Nigeria, and their trading and transport facilities have made it possible for them to carry out an enormous amount of development under great difficulties. The directors have had the courage of their convictions. In forwarding their own interests they have benefited the Protectorate, and if they have profited by their enterprise they have made the country a source of profit for others.

From the proceeds of the surrender of its charter to the British Government in 1900, the company were able to make a special distribution to its shareholders amounting to 145 per cent., and the

THE NIGER COMPANY 7 sale of certain of their mining rights in the Bauchi Province has more than repaid them for the work that they had carried on in the district since 1902, and resulted in raising their dividend payment in 1909 from ten to twenty per cent. And in addition the Niger Company possess practically a monopoly of the transport to the tin fields, the value of which cannot be overestimated.

The Niger Company's share of the credit that is due for effecting this great improvement in the present condition and future prospects of the Protectorate may be at once admitted ; but much has been accomplished since the control of the country devolved upon the British Colonial Office. In 1 900 only some 30,000 square miles, out of a total of 250,000 in Northern Nigeria, were under some form of organised control. The remainder was controlled and ruled under conditions giving no guarantee of liberty or even life. To-day the whole condition of the country is entirely altered. Sixteen provinces, comprising the entire Protectorate, have been organised by the neverceasing efforts of Residents, and the sum total of the unadministered area does not now exceed the 30,000 square miles that were under administration ten years ago.

PROGRESS OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA

At the date of the proclamation of the Nigerian Protectorates the Southern Colony was in a much more advanced state of development than its Northern neighbour, and was naturally regarded as the paramount partner. It had a sea border, a port at Lagos, which to-day is the most important town in West Africa, and it was destined to be the terminus of the first railway to be built in the new Dependencies. The markets and trading stations of the Niger Company were within its boundaries, the fertility of the soil was proved, its richness in rubber, tobacco, and coal was established, and its wealth of other vegetable products was well known. It is not at all surprising, then, that British pioneers and capitalists saw the splendid commercial future that was before Southern Nigeria, and were somewhat neglectful of the distant, isolated, and inaccessible Northern territories. Nor were they wrong, for the advance of its trade justified the most sanguine predictions, and, as will be seen by a glance at the appended tables (prepared in francs by Mr. C. A. Birtwistle, the Commercial Intelligence Officer of the Colony), its commerce to-day practically equals the total of the French

NORTHERN NIGERIA'S FUTURE 9

Colonies of Senegal, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, and Dahomey : —

All French West African Colonies.

Imports and Exports.

Value in Francs.

Nigeria.

Imports and Exports.

Value in Francs.

. 116,843,000

78,000,000

. 129,861,000

. 90,575,000

• 131459,000

96,625,000

. 130,906,000

. 112,325,000

. 161,819,000

. 111,700,000

« 155,949,000

. 130,100,000

. 152,471,000

. 128,775,000

. 163,442,000

. 144,925,000

. 177,436,000

• 192,550,000

. 193,090,000

. 184,550,000

It will be noted at a glance that whilst French West African trade has increased by 65 per cent., that of Nigeria has grown by 136 per cent.

ANTICIPATIONS OF NORTHERN NIGERIA'S FUTURE

Northern Nigeria, however, was known to be rich in iron, and the existence of other minerals was suspected ; its suitability as a field for the exploitation of the cotton-growing industry was realised and the British Cotton-Growing Association reported a few years ago that " in Northern Nigeria alone lies the possible salvation of Lancashire." Moreover, the Directors of the Niger io NIGERIA AND ITS TIN FIELDS

Company had always foretold the ultimate importance that would be attained by the regions north of the Niger and the Benue. The company^ trade flourished in the south, new products were being continually discovered and new factories opened, and the optimism of its shareholders was justified by the declaration of substantial dividends, but Sir George Goldie consistently predicted the boundless potentialities of the unopened North, and as far back as 1889 declared : " We can hardly impress too strongly upon our shareholders that our hopes of future prosperity rest far less on the lower regions of the Niger than upon the higher, inner, and recently explored country."

Sir Percy Girouard and others have warned the public against confusing Northern and Southern Nigeria, and running away with the idea that there is no great difference between them. As Colonel Mockler- Ferryman says : u Commencing with what is called the Niger Delta, we have a land of swamps and impenetrable forests, intersected by a vast network of streams and creeks and inhabited by numerous pagan tribes addicted to every species of vile custom, including even cannibalism and human sacrifices. . . . Above the pagan land — i.e*, at the confluence [of the rivers Niger and Benue] there

NATIVE TIN WASHING n is a marked change, not only in the type of the people but also in the nature of the country. Mohammedan influence commences to show itself, and low swampy wastes are superseded by rocky hills or far-extending grassy plains, well studded with magnificent trees."

NATIVE TIN WASHING

The existence of alluvial tin in these Northern regions was known for some considerable time, but until a year or two ago its value as a commercial asset was not seriously considered. Rumours of such sources of wealth frequently reached the Niger Company, and quantities of small faggots of very pure metal, which occasionally found their way down to the coast, afforded evidence that the natives had been working and smelting tin for a lengthy period. It was subsequently discovered that the procedure adopted by the native Nigerian tin miners, and described by Mr. Nicolaus, is as follows :

11 The washers, usually working in gangs of three or four, wade into the river, tributary creeks and gullies, generally at or near some shallow rapids, and, loosening the gravel under water with a short hoe-like implement, scoop it into large calabashes about 18 inches to 24 inches in diameter. As soon as sufficient gravel is collected (about 30 lbs.), it is washed, and the resulting rough concentrate placed in a smaller calabash, 6 inches to 8 inches in diameter, and thoroughly cleansed, nearly all the fine tinstone being lost. The resulting ' black tin 9 containing the equivalent of from 60 to 65 per cent, metal, is sun-dried, and packed in bags and skins for transport to the smelting furnaces.

a This ' black tin 9 is usually smelted in various parcels on a royalty basis, exclusively by members of one family, who hold the process a profound secret. Only three native smelting furnaces are in use, and these are each capable of turning out about 2 cwt. Of metal per diem. They are built of well-puddled clay, and are 3 feet 6 inches in diameter, and have at the back four tuyere holes conducting the blast from primitive sheepskin bellows to the hearth. The tin is reduced by means of charcoal, and runs through a channel 2 feet 6 inches long and 4 inches broad to a catch-pot, whence it is ladled by small gourds or calabashes and poured. The tin is cast in the form of thin bars of about an eighth of an inch in diameter and 12 inches long, which are produced by pouring the molten metal on semi-

THE DISCOVERY OF BAUCHI TIN 13

circular banks of clay, 18 inches high, perforated by dry Guinea corn-halms."

THE DISCOVERY OF BAUCHI TIN

The first actual discovery of tin in the Protectorate, or the first conclusive evidence of its actual existence there, has hitherto been 'wrop in mystery/ but, thanks to the courtesy of Sir William Wallace, late acting Governor of Northern Nigeria, I am in a position to dispel all uncertainty on the subject. In the course of a letter I received from Sir William, dated 21st October 19 10, he says: — " Up to '84 we used to believe that the tin used by the Hausa people for tinning their brass ware was brought across the desert. I then, being busily engaged opening up the Benue River to trade, got a hint that the tin was being smelted in some of the Hausa States, and, on making inquiries, found that it was being produced in Bauchi. We did all possible to develop the trade in the tin straws, but with little success, as the pagan tribes would have no dealings with the Hausa merchants, and rightly so, as it would have only led to the subjection of the tribes to the Fulani, whom they kept at bay till our advent in 1902, Early in that year I went with the little army as Political Agent to subdue the Emir of Bauchi, and after settling that matter I was able to get messengers through to the Delimi River, close to the Naraguta, from whence they brought about a quarter of a hundredweight of the tin sands, the first ever procured or seen by Europeans. This sample I brought home, and submitted to the Directors of the Niger Company, who shortly afterwards took out a prospecting licence over iooo square miles. Since then, thanks principally to Mr. Laws, the mining industry has slowly forged ahead, until the rush came along this year. Yeaf in, year out, I have been urging companies and encouraging prospectors to come along until I almost despaired of success ; but now, given a railway to the tin field, the industry cannot but prosper if the Government do not hamper it with too many restrictions."