Part 1

NIGERIA & ITS TIN FIELDS

NIGERIA AND ITS TIN FIELDS

BY ALBERT F. CALVERT AUTHOR OF “WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND ITS GOLDFIELDS” “THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA” “THE EXPLORATION OF AUSTRALIA,” “THE POLITICAL VALUE OF OUR COLONIES” ETC. ETC.

LONDON: EDWARD STANFORD 12, 13, & 14, LONG ACRE, W.C. 1910

Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. At the Ballantyne Press, Edinburgh

PREFACE

The present conspicuous position which Northern Nigeria holds in the public eye is of very recent attainment, and its development has been, comparatively speaking, the work of a moment. The discovery of tin in paying quantities within its boundaries is the secret of its sudden leap to an eminence from which it compels interest, and attracts to itself more than ordinary curiosity and attention. It is with Northern Nigeria as it was with New South Wales and California, with the Malay Peninsula and Rhodesia. Their potentialities were admitted long before the existence of their mineral wealth was made known, but it was not until their minerals were discovered that they loomed into absorbing prominence.

The importance of Northern Nigeria as a British possession was demonstrated by the Niger Company; her possibilities as an exporter of cotton, rubber, and other vegetable products were early admitted; but it needed the revelation of her enormous alluvial tin deposits in the Province of Bauchi to attract to the development of her resources the capital and enterprise which alone can ensure the growth of a country’s commerce.

But this sudden and surprising discovery also served to expose the widespread ignorance which prevailed in connection with our newest Protectorate, while it generated a desire for information concerning it. This little volume is put forward to satisfy this new-felt want, and it has, I think, the merit of being the first issued with that object. It has been compiled in haste, but care has been taken to verify the facts, and, as far as possible, the data has been derived from official sources.

I believe that no apology will be required for the illustrations, but for the use of the photographs from which they were produced I tender my grateful and sincere thanks to his Excellency Sir Walter Egerton, K.C.M.G., Governor and High Commissioner of Southern Nigeria; Sir William Wallace, K.C.M.G., late Acting Governor of Northern Nigeria; Mr. H. W. Laws, Engineer to the Niger Company; Mr. C. G. Lush, Consulting Engineer to the principal Nigerian Tin Companies; Mr. S. R. Bastard, Chairman and Director of several of the most important Nigerian tin mining companies; the Editor of the _Engineer_, Mr. R. Ernest Hope; Messrs. John Holt & Co., Ltd.; Mr. G. W. Christian; Messrs. E. H. Stein & Co., Ltd., and other prominent traders in Northern Nigeria.

A. F. CALVERT.

“ROYSTON,” ETON AVENUE, LONDON.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PLATE

Part of Marina, Lagos, Southern Nigeria 1

Marina, showing Customs, Lagos, Southern Nigeria 2

Lagos 3

Lagos. Amongst the Palms 4

Bird’s-eye View showing Marina and Town, Lagos 5

A portion of Lagos Town from Roof of New Mosque 6

Lagos 7

West End of Lagos from the French Factory 8

Steam Tram, Marina, Lagos 9

Lagos 10

Business Premises, Marina, Lagos 11

Part of Marina, Lagos 12

The Marina, Lagos 13

Club House, Lagos 14

Post Office, Lagos 15

Government House, Lagos 16

Public Wash “Houses,” Lagos 17

Public Washing Place, Elegrata, Lagos 18

Railway, Iddo 19

Yams (potatoes) on the Beach, Lagos 20

Fruit Market, Lagos 21

Corner of Market, Lagos 22

Iddo Station, Lagos 23

Railway Engine, Iddo 24

Fulani Sheep, Lagos 25

Bullock Cart 26

Forcados, Southern Nigeria 27

“Sir Alfred” Dry Dock, Forcados 28

Botanical Gardens, Ebute Metta, Lagos 29

Botanical Gardens, Ebute Metta, Lagos 30

Railway Crossing, Ebute Metta, Lagos 31

On the Road to Ebute Metta, Lagos 32

The Market, Burutu, Southern Nigeria 33

Burutu Market 34

Government Boat at Burutu 35

Palm Oil Stores, Burutu 36

Hospital, Burutu 37

Kwa River, Calabar Motor Boat “Spider,” Draught 9 inches 38

Two Jakrie Women, Burutu, Southern Nigeria 39

Jakrie Chief and one of his Wives 40

Large “Cotton Tree” at Okuni, Cross River 41

Jakrie Woman, Burutu 42

Chief Okrododo and two of his Sons, Burutu 43

Chief Okrododo, his Sons and Daughters: Jakrie Tribe, Burutu 44

Native Dancers at Awka in the Onitsha Hinterland, between Niger and the Cross River 45

Native Market at Itu on Cross River 46

A Landing-place on Cross River 47

On the Ewayong, a Tributary of the Cross River 48

A Bridge over Auja River near Ogoja 49

Bridge built of Vines by Pagans 50

The “Spider” at Itu 51

Oshogbo Railway Station: Lady Egerton and District Commissioner Mr. Gladstone, in Foreground 52

Cocoanut and Banana Palms 53

Sir Walter Egerton, Lady Egerton, Capt. Lawrence, Private Secretary, Capt. Lloyd, A.D.C. 54

Lower Niger 55

Lower Niger 56

On the Banks of the Lower Niger 57

Shipping Rubber, Lower Niger 58

Village on the Lower Niger 59

Idah, River Niger 60

Messrs. G. W. Christian’s Store at Idah, Niger River 61

Ejaws: Village Scene, Lower Niger 62

Bridge of Sighs, Lokoja, Northern Nigeria 63

Main Street, Lokoja Market 64

Native Judge or Alkale at Lokoja (A Copy of the Koran on his Lap) 65

Asaba Boys, Southern Nigeria 66

“Boys” who work the Cargo 67

Shipping Cotton, Lokoja, Northern Nigeria 68

Niger Company’s Depot at Lokoja 69

Produce Stores, Lokoja 70

Lokoja Market 71

Lokoja Market 72

Lokoja Market 73

Lokoja Market 74

Yams on the Beach, Lokoja 75

At the River-side, Lokoja 76

Lokoja 77

Lokoja 78

Marine Bungalow, Lokoja 79

European Hospital, Lokoja 80

Canteen at Lokoja 81

Bank, Lokoja 82

King Abiga, Lokoja, Northern Nigeria 83

Devil Man, Lokoja 84

Lokoja 85

Lokoja 86

Camp Road, Lokoja 87

Camp Road, Lokoja 88

Barracks, Lokoja 89

The Serrikin (King of Lokoja) and his Chiefs at the King’s House 90

Meat Market, Lokoja 91

Guard on Government Treasury, Lokoja 92

Messrs. Christian’s Store, Lokoja 93

Hausas Love Soap and Water 94

Coming in from the Country, Lokoja 95

Lokoja 96

Bridge of Sighs, Lokoja 97

Government Officials and others watching Gymkana, Lokoja 98

Hausa Women Hairdressing, Lokoja, Northern Nigeria 99

Barbers, Lokoja Market 100

Native Barber 101

Preparing Foofoo (Crushed Yams), Lokoja 102

Children at Play, Lokoja 103

Children in the Market, Lokoja, Northern Nigeria 104

Washing up, River Nigeria 105

A Quarrel, Lokoja Market 106

Washing Day on the Niger River, Northern Nigeria 107

Native Trading Canoe, Upper Niger, Northern Nigeria 108

Group of Hausa and Nupe Chiefs (Serrikin of Lokoja in Centre) 109

Black Bluejackets on the Government River Steamer “Kapelli” 110

S. W. “Ndoni” (Cargo Boat) on the Niger River 111

“Halstead” (Cargo Boat) on Niger River 112

High Commissioner’s Yacht “Corona” on the Niger 113

Hausa Canoe 114

Chief’s Canoe being saluted on the Niger 115

Nupe Town of Egga on the Niger 116

Egga, Northern Nigeria 117

Egbohu, Northern Nigeria, Landing-place of Expedition against Beda 118

Part of Rabba Village, Northern Nigeria 119

Unloading Salt, Jebba 120

Loading Steamer, Jebba 121

The S.S. “Scarborough” at Jebba 122

Looking up the Niger from Jebba 123

Mohammedan Mosque, Northern Nigeria 124

Palm Village, Northern Nigeria 125

Shonga, Northern Nigeria 126

Fulani Cattle, Northern Nigeria 127

On the Benue River 128

Camping on Benue River 129

Market at Lamugo, near Keffi 130

Cowrie Men paying Carriers per Basket 131

Making Lama Mats 132

Making Stools 133

Grinding Guinea Corn 134

Jukums at Abinsi 135

The Emir of Kano. (Now a Prisoner in Lokoja. Was the cause of the Kano Rising in 1907) 136

Three Hausa Traders with Bundles of Skins from Kano 137

Cattle, near Nafada 138

Camels at Nafada 139

Selling Cotton in Nafada Market 140

Chief of Kanam 141

Head Men in Vom 142

Miango Chief and Head Men (Ex-Chief on Left) 143

Chief of Wase 144

Camps in Hos 145

Hausa Loom 146

Second Chief at Ibi 147

Wase Rock 148

Amo Men 149

Hausa Girl 150

Kabba Boy 151

Hausa Woman 152

Hausa Boy 153

Brother Healy and some of his Pupils, Onitsha 154

View on the Niger River 155

Messrs. G. W. Christian’s Store, Onitsha 156

Sir William Wallace, K.C.M.G. 157

Mr. S. R. Bastard 158

Mr. Laws in front of Office with Bars of Tin ready for Transport 159

First Camp at the Tin Mines, Naraguta 160

Naraguta Camp 161

Part of the Fuel Market, Bauchi 162

Surveying Party at Juga 163

Pagans paying a Visit to discuss Matters at Jos 164

Pagans bringing in a Present, Jos 165

Naraguta. Pagans coming in for Tin Loads to Jermaan. (We were fighting them a year before) 166

Carriers leaving Naraguta Camp 167

Carriers crossing Delimi River 168

Naraguta. 190 Bars of Tin leaving Camp by Asab Pagans 169

A Camp. Survey Camp at Jos 170

Horses being brought as Tax 171

Part of actual Working Face, Naraguta 172

Launders at end of Tail Race at River’s Edge, Naraguta 173

Naraguta. Making Dam 174

Naraguta. Construction of Dam. Rukubar Pagans 175

Naraguta. View showing Back of Dam 176

Naraguta Dam 177

Naraguta 178

Naraguta 179

Naraguta 180

Naraguta. Four Sluice-boxes in Labourers’ Creek 181

Naraguta 182

Naraguta. View of Sluice-boxes, Labourers’ Creek 183

Naraguta. Moving Boxes to Face of Stope, Bala’s Stope 184

Naraguta. Two Sluice-boxes 185

Naraguta 186

Naraguta 187

Naraguta Camp 188

Opening Foot-bridge, Delimi River, Naraguta 189

Labourers’ Camp on the Tin Fields 190

Naraguta. Tin-workers working the Bed of the River in dry season 191

Naraguta. Construction of Leat by Rukubar Pagans 192

Naraguta. Construction of Leat by Rukubar Pagans 193

Washing Tin in Delimi River, Naraguta 194

Delimi River 195

View of Delimi River between Naraguta and Jos 196

Naraguta. View showing Flood-boxes on Leat 197

Naraguta 198

A Camp 199

Naraguta. Tributers washing Tin 200

Tin Washing 201

Naraguta. Half-length new Main Tail Race 202

Naraguta. No. 2. Looking up Main Tail Race 203

Naraguta. Lower View, No. 2, Main Tail Race 204

Naraguta. Close to Main Working Face, No. 2 Stope 205

Naraguta. Tin Mining. Yorubus Working in the Ground 206

Troops leaving Naraguta Camp for Bauchi 207

Nafuta Gorge, looking towards Juga. The Juga River runs down the centre and passes to the Nafuta Flats 208

Nafuta Gorge. The River at this point is lost to sight to thirty feet below the big boulders in the middle of the Ravine 209

Proposed Dam Site, Juga 210

Prospecting on Dubbo or Topaz Valley 211

Mr. C. G. Lush’s Camp at Juga 212

Camp of Messrs. Lush, Huddart and Walter Wethered 213

Messrs. Huddart and Lush prospecting on one of the Creeks of the Dubbo or Topaz Valley Property 214

Face of Alluvial, 16 feet deep, averaging about 6 lbs. of Tin per cubic yard; Dubbo or Topaz Valley Mine 215

Juga Camp: Pay-day 216

Rafinsiroma Camp 217

Rafinsiroma Dam, looking south-east 218

House-building, Rafinsiroma Tin Mines 219

A Group of Natives 220

View in Amo 221

A View in Vom 222

Mr. G. W. Christian, a Nigerian Trader 223

Steamers discharging at Baro 224

Baro Yard 225

Baro Beach just before the Railway was begun: Baro-Kano Railway 226

Setting out Earthwork at Patatifi, Baro-Kano Line 227

Temporary Bridge over the Bakogi River, Baro-Kano Line 228

Engine of the Emir Class on Steel Bridge, Baro-Kano Line 229

Earthwork in Progress, Baro-Kano Line 230

Straightening Road at Railhead, Baro-Kano Line 231

Niger End of the Line: View from Baro Hill 232

General View of Baro Station 233

Mr. H. W. Laws, Engineer to the Niger Company 234

Map of Southern Nigeria 235

Map of Northern Nigeria 236

Map showing Route of Railway from Baro to Rigachika 237

Map showing Railway and Roads to Tin Fields 238

Alluvial Tin Districts in the Bauchi Province 239

Plan of the Naraguta Tin Mines showing Workings 240

Properties of the Juga (Nigeria) Tin & Power Company, Limited 241

Properties of the Lucky Chance Mines, Limited, in the Dubbo District 242

The Dubbo or Topaz Valley Property, belonging to the Lucky Chance Mines, Limited 243

Rafinsiroma Tin Property, belonging to the Lucky Chance Mines, Limited 244

The Polchi Alluvial Tin Property, belonging to the Lucky Chance Mines, Limited 245

The Bilidi Alluvial Tin Property, belonging to the Lucky Chance Mines, Limited 246

The Federri Alluvial Tin Property, the Tin Fields of Northern Nigeria, Limited 247

Doss or Dila Tin Property, the Tin Fields of Northern Nigeria, Limited 248

The Kurdum River Alluvial Tin Area 249

The Rein, Forum, Ribon, and Kurdum Alluvial Tin Areas 250

The Rein Alluvial Tin Area 251

The Farum Alluvial Tin Area 252

The Shen Alluvial Tin Area 253

South Bukeru Tin Area 254

Juga District 255

Gel Tin Lode and Alluvial Company 256

The Northern Nigeria (Bauchi) Tin Mines 257

Route from Minna to Tin Fields 258

New road from Railhead to Tin Fields 259

NIGERIA & ITS TIN FIELDS

EARLY DAYS IN NIGERIA