ANCIENT HAUSA CITY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 265, 28 October 1911, Page 3 (Supplement)

ANCIENT HAUSA CITY.

12-MILE WALT. IN HEART GF AFRICA.

A native city in Central Africa, with gicat enfolding walls 12 miles in circumference. pierced by 13 deep gateways with massive doors and guardhouses, and with written records dating brn-k SIX) years, will come as a surprise t:> many readers who have a dim conception of the extent and possibilities of British Nigeria. Such, however, is the llau.’a City of Kano, as described in an interesting and illuminating article by the ‘‘Timos" special correspondent. “AVlion the A'.’est-Saxon realm fell before the ons’aught of the Danes, and the first Danish King reigned over England, Idaiisaland wa-; conquered by an unknown people from the East, am' when the prosperity of tho English tr-wi.s was beginning; to revive under Henry 1., Giiimasu, the third king of ■fhe invading dynasty, was building Kano." The famous market place presents an extraordinary variety of human types, customs and costumes :— “ Keen-foatii! ed men of business, women with elaborate coiffures resembling pictures of old Assyrian helmets, their cheeks often disfigured by exaggerated “beauty spots" daubed on with load or antimony. Other Hausas. visitors from Katsina. Gober, or Daura, each with ■ lie distinguishing facial mark of his clan, six st’-likes with a dot for Katsina, two for Daura, and so on. Pale-com-plexioned Fulnani from the country, the women wearing their straight hair in ringlets, with silver ear-rings and gentle eyes. The Nupe, with his characteristic headgear of red, black and yellow straw. Thick-lipped Kanuris from Bornu. Tall, lithe Tuareg from distant Sokoto, or Asben. The Arab merchant, arrogant and intriguer, making his way through the market to t.lic ‘Arab quarter,’ a quarter of the city remarkable for its Moorish architecture and unpleasantly notorious for its .snieib.” And the merchandise is of infinite variety--one of tho articles being “cow dung in small packets (very precious).” The writer explains why the home of the Hausa and the Fulani is so little known. It has to be approached by a river full of pools and rapids and a heat which only a few Englishmen can stand. Tho climate will no doubt always be a barrier between the white man and the upland of Nigeria.