124 NIGERIA NORTHERN PROVINCES 



that all the pagan tribes of Haussa Land are descended 

 from them. The Gwaris, apparently, have no records, 

 but are a scattered race living among the rocky hills 

 and caves in the country lying to the south of 

 Zaria. 



Bornu was not evidently included in the Songhay 

 kingdom or associated with the Haussa states, the in- 

 habitants belonging to a distinct race with separate 

 traditions. Their history in comparison with that of the 

 Haussas is of recent date. In 1808, after the successful 

 Fulani conquests of Zaria, Zanfara, Kano, Katsena, and 

 Bauchi, Bornu was overrun. Shortly after this a sheikh, 

 from the country extending eastwards from Lake Tchad, 

 believing himself to be inspired to liberate the country, 

 raised a small army, drove out the Fulani forces, and 

 founded the present dynasty of Bornu. Some years later 

 he attempted to expel the Fulanis from the Bauchi 

 Province, but failed, and was compelled to come to 

 terms. 



The Haussas as well as the Bornuese are chiefly Mo- 

 hammedans, but it is only among the higher ranks of 

 the other tribes that a semblance of that religion has 

 been adopted. 



The tribes which had migrated from the East brought 

 with them the agricultural knowledge of the Eastern 

 nations. Among the noticeable evidences of this may 

 be mentioned the " shaduf," or dipping beam, used for 

 irrigation in Egypt, which is similarly employed near 

 Kano and Zaria. The absence of ploughs and the non- 

 employment of cattle are, however, difficult to account 

 for, as excellent cattle are common and thrive well in the 

 most populous parts of the country. Tillage of the soil 

 is still done entirely by hand, and, in those parts where 

 the shallowest form exists, manure is extensively used. 

 Among the many crops grown which are common to 

 Oriental countries, as well as Northern Nigeria, are Guinea 

 corn, maize, cotton, groundnuts, millet, benniseed, arti- 

 chokes, wheat, and rice. 



Agriculture shows the greatest development in the 

 Province of Kano, where the population is dense, especi- 

 ally in the vicinity of the town from which the Province 

 takes its name. The concentration of a large population 

 in this locality was doubtless occasioned by the protection 



