SHEA NUTS 131 



According to results obtained at the Imperial Institute 

 (Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, 1908, p. 370; 1912, p. 

 290), the kernels contain from 40 to 50 per cent, of fat, as 

 well as a small quantity of unsaponifiable matter resem- 

 bling gutta-shea. 



Where the nuts are very plentiful, and transport 

 appears to be easy, the collection is often neglected, and 

 the reason given is that there is some difficulty in removing 

 the fruit from the nut, which makes the occupation un- 

 remunerative. But it is noticeable that the fleshy part 

 quickly decomposes, and the clean nuts are frequently 

 seen beneath the trees themselves, although in this 

 situation the advent of heavy rain will often induce 

 germination, and so spoil the kernel. This difficulty is 

 obviated if the fruits are collected and placed under 

 cover, being allowed to decompose without too much 

 moisture. 



Throughout the Ilorin and Nupe Provinces the nuts 

 are at present collected for sale to the factories, but in 

 size those grown in the Zaria Province are larger, and 

 are now quite accessible. In this latter locality the 

 double fruit, above referred to, appears to be common. 

 In the tract of country through which the Baro-Kano 

 railway now proceeds, after crossing the Kogin-Serikin- 

 Pawa river, as far Zaria, localities containing very 

 large and prolific trees are frequently met with, but the 

 population is scanty, and collection is scarcely made for 

 export purposes. Trees growing in cultivated areas are 

 generally recognised as the property of the cultivator, 

 forest trees only being common property. Women are 

 the chief collectors of the nuts in the districts whence 

 the supplies at present come, and their inability to 

 penetrate far into the forests has sometimes been urged 

 as a reason for larger quantities not being brought in 

 to the factories. Now that the railway is present, it is 

 probable that regular collectors will commence to exploit 

 the forests for some distance on each side of the line, 

 and that people from the more populous districts will be 

 induced to visit them for the same purpose. 



No record is available to show the amount of nuts and 

 butter exported previous to 1905, but it must have been 

 considerable, as the High Commissioner in his annual 

 report for 1905-6 says : " The Shea nut export trade, 



