ADMINISTRATION 121 



as many years as are available until 1913 are given for 

 comparison : 



Av. inches. Av. inches. 



Naraguta . . 50-28 Knepp . . 40-80 



Ilorin . . 49-75 Yola . . 38-64 



Kontagora . 47-77 Kano . . 33-65 



Zaria . . 46-59 Maifoni . . 27-85 



Baro . . 46-56 Sokoto . . 24-86 



Lokoja . . 45-77 Kataguni . 19-87 



Zungeru . . 41-67 Geidam . . 15-14 



Of the places mentioned the highest single year's rain- 

 fall was reached at Ilorin when 65-18 inches fell, and the 

 lowest at Geidam in 1913 when only 5-76 were recorded. 

 There are localities where the rainfall exceeds the highest 

 given here and others where it is undoubtedly much lower, 

 but no records are available. The highest shade tem- 

 peratures have been at Dumjeri and Maifoni (North 

 Bornu), where 120 was attained, the lowest being at 

 Kano, where it fell to 39. In Kano and Zaria rain seldom 

 falls between November 1 and the end of March, but the 

 distribution is more general in the south. 



Administration and Political Divisions. The administra- 

 tion of Northern Nigeria was taken over by the Crown 

 in 1900, having previously been carried on by the Royal 

 Niger Company. Protectorates were gradually assumed, 

 and the country placed upon a secure footing by the 

 suppression of raiding, which had constantly been carried 

 on by the different Emirs, chiefly upon the pagan tribes. 

 The devastation caused by these raids is still visible in 

 the country to the south of Kontagora and elsewhere, 

 and the fear of the raiders kept the inhabitants within 

 or in close proximity to their walled towns, leaving large 

 tracts of fertile country unexploited. The work accom- 

 plished by Sir Frederick Lugard, the first High Commis- 

 sioner, was largely that of pacification and reassurance 

 of the people, and until this had been completed, and 

 facilities for transport provided, it could not be expected 

 that the country could make much progress from a 

 commercial standpoint. . 



The further opening up of the country by means of 

 roads and railways, and the assessment of land revenue 

 upon lines completely understood and recognised as fair 

 by the natives, was effected by Sir Percy Girouard, who 



