116 NIGERIA -SOUTHERN PROVINCES 



KOLA. Two species of kola (K . acuminata and K. vera) 

 are cultivated, the latter being the indigenous Gold 

 Coast form, the fruit of which is said to be especially 

 valued in the Haussa countries to the north. The 

 local native names are, respectively, "Obiabatta" and 

 ' ' Obi gbanja." In general appearancethe trees are similar, 

 except that the former has narrower and smaller leaves. 

 The " gbanja " form of nut is generally pink and divisible 

 into from two to three parts (cotyledons), whereas the 

 " abatta " form may vary in colour from deep crimson 

 to white and be separable into from three to five parts. 

 The price paid for kolas in Lagos is said to vary from 

 Is. 3d. to 5s. per hundred. 



Although a considerable number of trees have been 

 planted and are bearing fruit in the Western Province, 

 the demand for kolas for native consumption is so great 

 that there is a large import trade from the Gold Coast. 



The kola nut is chewed in much the same manner as 

 the betel nut in the East. It is greatly appreciated for 

 its sustaining qualities, and forms a token of friendship 

 exchanged among high-grade natives, as a preliminary 

 to an important discussion of any kind. 



FIBRE. Experiments have been made at the Oloke- 

 meji Botanic Station with indigenous fibres, and a small 

 factory has been erected at Ilaro, where a machine 

 capable of extracting fibre is said to have been insti- 

 tuted. The reports upon some of the local Hibiscus 

 fibres have been satisfactory. These are capable of 

 utilisation as jute substitutes, and it may be possible to 

 grow them in the crop rotation of the country at some 

 future time for the purpose of export. (See Selected 

 Reports from the Imperial Institute, No. 1 "Fibres," 

 pp. 38, 52, 83, 89, and 114.) 



Piassava (Raphia vinifera) fibre is prepared and shipped, 

 especially from Uwet in the Eastern Province, the export 

 amounting to 319 tons in 1910. 



LEATHER. A small trade in leather is done among 

 the Yorubas, and tanners may be met with chiefly in the 

 north of the Western Province. The process employed 

 in the preparation of the goat and sheep skins used 

 is similar to that of Northern Nigeria. (See Report 

 on " Leather from Lagos," Bulletin of the Imperial In- 

 stitute, vol. iv. [1906], p. 366, and articles on "Native 



