﻿156 JAS. J. SIMPSON — ENTOMOLOGICAL 



system of lagoons which lie parallel with the coast-line. The chief of these are 

 the Owuri, which flows into the Lagos lagoon, the Omi into the Ikorodu lagoon, 

 the Oshun, the Shasha, and the Oni, which pour their waters into the Lekki 

 lagoon, and the Oluwa River, which empties itself into the Mahin lagoon. It 

 must be remembered, however, that all these lagoons are united and open to the 

 sea only at one point, namely, near Lagos. 



It will thus be seen, from the general direction of the flow of these rivers, 

 namely, almost due south, that there is a gradual diminution in the altitude 

 from the north southwards, interrupted by no intrusive ranges of hills of any 

 importance. For this reason, in considering the physical configuration of the 

 Province, it is convenient to divide the country into four zones more or less 

 parallel with the coast. 



The first, or outer, zone consists of long peninsulas, islands and sandbanks 

 which separate the ocean from the series of lagoons already mentioned. These 

 lagoons, though all connected, vary considerably in depth and expanse ; in some 

 places they widen out into extensive lakes, at others they contract into narrow 

 channels enclosing numerous flat marshy islands or sandbanks. In most parts 

 these waterways are navigable for small launches, and by this means there is a 

 regular marine service between Lagos and Badagri on the west, and on the east 

 between Ikorodu, Epe and Siluko on the boundary between the Western and 

 Central Provinces, some fifty miles from the sea. 



Beyond the lagoon area, for some ten miles inland, there is a flat tract of 

 country, in some places sandy and much cultivated, in others consisting of 

 numerous extensive swamps. In the latter area the inhabitants are chiefly 

 fishermen and salt-collectors. During and after the rains many of these swamps 

 become small lakes and connect with the main lagoons by small channels which 

 are often navigable for canoes. 



Beyond this second zone the forest country commences, and the land gradually 

 rises until the watershed of the Niger is reached, which is formed by an oblique 

 range of hills between the 8th and 9th parallels, consisting of the Idanre hills, 

 and the highlands of Ilesha, Oshogbo and Shaki. In some parts (for example, 

 the Forest of Ondo), the vegetation is very thick, and there are abundant large 

 high trees, whose foliage serves to produce a very dense shade. In such forests 

 the stillness, broken only by the chirruping of the cicadas, is oppressive ; 

 the temperature is several degrees lower than in the open, but the moist clammy 

 air is almost suffocating. In other parts, however, there are numerous large 

 expanses of undulating park-like country, where a certain amount of cultivation 

 is done, but on the whole the population is scanty. 



Beyond this forest region, which north of Lagos is about 40 miles wide, the 

 country opens out, and extensive views can be had from the tops of the small 

 hills, e.g., at Abeokuta and Meko, and beyond this the country is, for the most 

 part, open and fertile. The population is very dense in this area, and there are 

 a few towns of very large size, e.g., Ibadan with 200,000 and Oshogbo with 

 40,000 inhabitants. Towards the boundary of Northern Nigeria there are bare 

 granitic, gneiss and schistose hills ; the country is much drier, and the trees are 

 thinly scattered, low and stunted. 



