CIVILISATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LII, Issue LIII, 3 February 1908, Page 3

CIVILISATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA.

I The annual report on Northern Nigeria | shows that the Protectorate during the ' past year was in a very peaceful 4*ate. With the exception of the Baasa Province and certain pagan zones, travel through the different provinces is absolutely safe , for a man, woman, or child. A vigorous " policy of peaceful penetration is being ' pursued; in all directions, and ■ are being made to gain the confidence of the people, and thus gradually bring them under the influence of law and order. A section of the report is devoted to "Slavery, >?- and contains several interesting particulars. _In the <sokoto Province the native courts have freed 106 slaves during the year. Traffic in slaveß has almost ceased in the province, and the Serikiimjkttishmin is doing all in his power j to assist the Resident in carrying out Ihe j policy of the Protectorate. In Zaria'i4s slaves were released in the year, and in ; Bornu 1,282 slaves have been released since i 19C&. In BapcW the slave trade is now J carried on with the greatest seccrecy, and i is being effectively checked. A common i practice in the Nigri district was for a man to strip and -sell his brother to Kano ' traders. The latter would escape in the j course of a week and share his purchase money with his brother. ■ J j in the Province oi Kaan.ton.ga the con- j stant complaint of the ruling clasß is that j they have no slaves. Thousands of slaves ; escaped when the Government troops j broke the power of the Fulani. In Zaria ' pagans find the selling of a slave, whe- 1 ther criminal or so-called witch, or a child, a convenient form of raising money | to pay a debt or tax. There are two , | Freed Slaves' Homes, with a considerable ; of inmates. In regard to curj rency, great harm is done by the circulation of tinned pennies and florins amongst the ignorant natives. t I The cotton industry is making very • satisfactory progress ,which will be en- ; hanuced by the jtxnxstTudEion of the new f railway to Zaria projected by the Govern- • ment. '