11 



was recorded at Onitsha (Central province), and Afikpo (Eastern 

 province) in March, at Asaba (Central province) in February, and 

 Benin City (Central province) in March, and the lowest 54*5° at 

 Benin City in January."* 



" The mean temperature of Old Calabar (Eastern province) in 

 1905 was 81*21°, and the mean daily range 15*4°. The highest and 

 lowest shade temperatures were recorded at Bonny (Eastern 

 province) in February, being 96*21° and 62*13° respectively. "f 



The Principal Medical Officer reports that " the highest temper- 

 ature recorded in Northern Nigeria during the year 1905 was 

 118° at Maifoni (Bornu), on April 8th, and the lowest 39° at Kano, 

 on February 2nd, the highest mean temperature for the year 

 being at Kontagora, 82°, and the lowest at Zaria, 74°. The mean 

 temperature in 1905 at Zungeru (headquarters) was 80°4 The 

 temperature in Bornu although reaching 106° in the shade dnring 

 the hot season is liable to fall at times (in December and January) 

 so low as to cause occasional frosts, more particularly in the region 

 of Lake Chad. In western Bauchi (Bukuru) " the temperature in 

 the dry season is stated rarely to exceed 85°, and in November and 

 December it falls below freezing point."§ 



Rainfall.— In Southern Nigeria, during 1906, "the maximum 

 rainfall was 251*49 ins. at Egwanga (Eastern province), and the 

 minimum 40*92 ins. at Oloke Meji (Western province). The rain- 

 fall at Lagos was 74*76 ins., at Calabar 156*64 ins., and at Bonny 

 142*26 ins."|| These places, with the exception of Oloke Meji are 

 all on or near the coast, where the heaviest rainfall usually occurs. 



In Northern Nigeria in the year 1905-06, "the greatest 

 rainfall was at Zaria with 51*27 ins., and the lowest, Sokoto, with 

 33*32 ins., the maximum fall on one day being at Ilorin on 

 June 2nd., 4*04 ins."i In Bornu the rainfall, which is generally 

 regarded as being uncertain and small (May to October), was 

 considered exceptionally good during the same year, 25 ins. being 

 registered at Maifoni. 4 ^ 



There are two well marked seasons, the wet and the dry. The 

 wet season may be regarded as from March to October and the 

 dry season as through the remainder of the year, although 

 tornados, more particularly between the seasons, are of frequent 

 occurrence. 



The Harmattan, a wind which more or less affects the whole of 

 the coast of Guinea is prevalent during the dry season. Its usual 

 course is from the north-east, across the Sahara desert, with 

 varying degrees of force ; sometimes it blows with great violence, 

 whilst at others it is not more than a gentle breeze. This wind is 

 characterized, moreover, by excessive dryness, and by a thick haze 

 attributable in a large measure to the fine particles of sand which it 

 draws with it. The nights at these times are cold and often some- 

 what trying, even though the temperature may not fall below 65°. 



* Col. Rep., Ann., No. 554, 1908, for 1906, S. Nigeria, p. 54. 



+ Col. Rep., Ann., No. 512, 1906, S. Nigeria, p. 36. 



% Col. Rep., Ann., No. 516, 1907, N. Nigeria, p. 105. 



§ Col. Rep., Ann., No. 516, 1907, N. Nigeria, p. 42. 



|i Col. Rep., Ann., No. 554. 1908. for 1906, S. Nigeria, p. 55. 



i I.e., p. 32. 



