14 



Southern Nigeria, where there are no beasts of burden and where 

 wheeled traffic is not possible. The same method is also current 

 in Northern Nigeria, but in certain provinces mules, bullocks, 

 horses and asses are used for the purpose. " It is reported that 

 the introduction of animal transport is gradually taking the place 

 of carriers, but until suitably bridged and metalled roads are 

 constructed, it will be an impossibility wholly to substitute animal 

 transport during the rains."" 



In the dry season both cart and pack transport are in use 

 throughout the road from Zungeru to Kano, and in the Bornu 

 province. The tsetse fly in several provinces — Zaria, Yola, &c, 

 causes much loss amongst these animals. Carts have been 

 introduced, but it is said that the climate is detrimental, as the 

 following report seems to indicate. " Out of 100 carts made in 

 England, 80 had, after 18 months' service in Northern Nigeria, to 

 be practically rebuilt, and of the balance 12 were condemned as 

 unfit for further use."f 



" Pack transport has been worked with good results in the 

 Sokoto and Kano provinces, while pack camels have taken the 

 place of pack bullocks at Zaria and Kano with excellent results." J 



Transport near the coast with such magnificent waterways is, as 

 can be readily understood, comparatively easy, and the Marine 

 Department controls an extensive fleet of steam and motor vessels 

 and other craft adapted to the regular mail, passenger, and trans- 

 port services which have been organized. The first railway in 

 the country was opened to the public in March, 1901, between 

 Iddo island at Lagos and Ibadan, this has since been extended to 

 Abeokuta and Oshogbo, 186 miles in all, the intermediate stations 

 being fixed at Ebute-Metta, Agege, Otta, Ifo, Arigbajo, Itori, 

 Wasimi, Owowo, Aro, Abeokuta, Sanushi, Opeji, Eruwa road, 

 Oloke Meji, Ogunshileh, Ilugun, Adio, Ibadan, Oyo road, Olodo, 

 Lalupon, I wo, Origo and Ede. This line is now being extended 

 to Northern Nigeria by way of Ilorin and Jebba, on the Niger. 

 A light railway has been constructed from the Kaduna river (at 

 Barijuko) to Zungeru. 



This brief note on the transport may be fittingly concluded 

 with a reference to the ancient caravan routes, between Tripoli 

 and Kano — still the most important market centre in Nigeria — 

 across the Sahara desert, by way of Ghat, Asben and Zinder, or by 

 way of Murzuk, Bilma and Lake Chad, a distance of about 1,800 

 miles ; the first mentioned route is the one more usually followed. 

 It is not unlikely that much of the trade will be diverted from 

 this route as the conditions of transport improve southwards to 

 the sea. Dr. Cargill has reported that "the journey from Tripoli 

 to Ghat takes 40 days, and costs from £2 to £3 per camel load. 

 At this point there is always a delay of some weeks to procure 

 fresh camels ; and from thence it is a journey of six or seven 

 weeks to Kano, costing £4 to £6. The French levy $2 for each 

 load of skins, and $4 per load of ivory or feathers at Zinder. 

 Roughly, therefore, it may be said that goods take nearly five 



* Col. Rep.. Ann., No. 551, 1907, p. 56, N. Nigeria, 

 f Col. Rep.', Ann., No. 551, 1907, p. 57. 

 X 1. c p. 56. 



