Borgu province has an area of 12,000 square iniies. In South 

 Borgu the people are agricultural, but are not industrious, and 

 show no desire to acquire wealth or to trade. In the North the 

 settlements of Fulani from Gando rear cattle, while the Baribas 

 are agricultural. The industries are confined to the simple wants 

 of the people, and there is little trade. The soil appears to be 

 rich black loam singularly free from the white ant pest. 



Kontagora province has an area of 14,500 square miles. 



In the province of Zaria, with an area of 22,000 square miles, 

 the chief crop appears to be cotton, which is exported to Kano. 

 The altitude of Zaria station is 2,250 ft., and its climate is conse- 

 quently one of the most healthy in Nigeria ; during part of the 

 year it may be even called bracing and delightful. The great 

 disadvantage is that tsetse fly has been found to exist. 



The province of Bauchi has an area of 23,200 square miles. 

 The city of Bauchi was once a great centre of the slave trade, and 

 owed such prosperity as it possessed to this fact. The inhabitants 

 are, generally speaking, wonderfully good and industrious 

 agriculturists, rich in flocks and herds, but are lawless and 

 independent. There are tin mines in the neighbourhood of 

 Naraguta, to which a route was opened up during 1905-06 ; starting 

 from Loko on the Benue, 110 miles from Lokoja, it traverses the 

 Nassarawa Province, first northwards to Keffi, thence north east 

 to Darroro, and over the Assab, Sura, or Kibyen Plateau. This 

 Plateau is described as " extensive and well watered, with a 

 surprisingly fertile soil," having a general elevation of at least 

 3,800 feet, and peopled by agricultural Pagans. " These Pagans, 

 though at present mostly cannibals, are manly, straightforward, 

 and industrious. It is probable that this district may have a great 

 future as a local sanatorium, not only for Northern Nigeria, but 

 also for the Coast Administrations."* 



Yola province has an area of 16,000 square miles. 



The province of Nupe has an area of 6,100 square miles. Bida, 

 one of its chief towns, is most advantageously situated as to means 

 of transport. The Niger flows immediately to the south and other 

 navigable rivers, the Kaduna on the west and the Bako on the 

 east, are in its immediate vicinity. 



Nassarawa province, with an area of 18,000 square miles, is 

 concerned with iron smelting as its principal industry and salt 

 also is obtained in the Kiana district. 



The province of Muri has an area of 25,800 square miles. The 

 three main trade routes of the country converge at Wase, viz., 

 from the salt district at Awe, from the kola-growing centres of 

 Kentu and Bafum in the Cameroons, and from Gashaka, via A mar, 

 for cattle. The climate here is good but the actual valley of 

 the Benue, which runs through th« centre of the province, is 

 infested with mosquitos and tsetse fly. 



The salt from the brine springs ai Awe and elsewhere lias been 

 analysed at the Imperial Institute, and it appears probable that ;i 



* Col. Rep., Ann., No. 516. 11)07. p. 41. 



