New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-24
KANO And SOKOTO.
Centres of Trade IN Nezr English
Territory an Africa.


King Edwards dominions in Western Africa
had been augmented 6y the annexation Of a
tract of over one hundred thousand square miles
Of territory: that is 20 say Of district large
as the States Of New-York. Pennsylvania and
New-Jersey combined This addition to the
British Empire has been accomplished by means
of conquest and with comparatively little loss
OF life to the English forces, which consisted
entirely of native troops commanded by white
officers both commissioned and non-connis-
stoned
The mere increase in the size OF England's
possessions in the Dark Continent is of small
importance. however. compared 20 the immense
value of the capture Of KaEo and Of Sokoto
from commercial point OF view. For Kano is.
indeed. the principal market and centre OF trade
in the interior ~ Africa and not only that. but
likewise the centre % all sorts OF African In
dustries Kano. indeed having been frequently
described as the Manchester and Birmingham
combined Of the Dark Continent Colonial Sec
rotary Chamberlain declares that the annual
attendance of the market at Kano exceeds
million persons from all parts Of Africa. while
Colonel NonteH the French explorer. and Ed
rnund D. MorreH. in his Affairs of West At
RIGA" estimate that the number Of natives who
visit kano each year for purposes OF trade -
at least twice as large The market IS heid
daily throughout the year. and the most be-
wiIdering diversity OF articles are always on
sale: native cloths which are products Of the
Hausas' looms and dye pits: silk ernoroideTed
robes leather and brass ware weapons rough
agricultural i'm elements silver and brass
ments. ivory. antimony- ostrich feathers Iivs-
stock OF every conceivable description slaves.
salt ca kes. natron. European merchandise ar
ammunition-au these and a thousand things
more are sale in this immense city. which.
inclesed in lofty encorlpa ssns wall. is r@pVtai
10 be no less than sixteen miles IN cirrumfer-
ence.
Many caravan routes converge at Kauo- ard
the procession Of heavily laden cameis and ASSES.
of men, mounted and on foot of slaves. women
and children. seems TO he endless The market
has been held thus daily the same site for
over thousand years, and at the time when
William the COnqueror fought the battle ~
Hastings and established himself che throne
of England it is probable that the daily T1arkat
was in progress at kanO amid surroundings
almost Identical in form and appearance with
those OF the present day.
Each particular class OF goods has its
special market. and thus whereas in one quar-
ter of Kano one finds nothing bat leather
sale in another district of the city the trade *
restricted to cloth. Every imaginable type Of
African may be seen there. merchants from
Egypt Tuuis Tripoli and Morocco. from ths
Eastern soudan and from the shores Of the
Red Sea as well as from the Western Coast.
which is washed by the Atlantic. Even Zulus,
Oriental Jews. East Indians and Malays are
seen there. and. strange 20 say. not only
has peace from time imnemorial been pre-
served among this strange medley Of Pur-
ehasers and vendors but. moreover. chey ike
wise understand one another. carrying on their
bargainings by means OF signs The traders
have indeed sort of language. which beneath
Of
verse grasps OF one another's hands. wrists and
arms the deliberations being in this way con
ceaIed from the onlookeFs and from the curious
General Sir Frederick Lugard. 70 whom King
Edward is indebted for this notable addition 20
his colonial empire. and who is the governo-
general and high commissioner Of all Great
Britain's possessions in Western Africa and
Nigeria extending TO the Anglo-Egyptian Sou
dan, proposes to rule the Sultanates Of SOkOtO
and OF Kano in the same way as the other
Hausa States that is through native emirs. ac-
cording 20 native ideas. so as not 20 interfere
in any way with the trade Of Kano, which he
hopes to develop still more by rendering more
facile its intercourse with the outer world. He
will make no effort TO proselytze. viii ne
encourage missionary activity. but will en-
deavor 10 inspire the natives with confidence in
his assurances that attempt viii be made to
modest their various religions and practices.
The only thing that he Will endsavor gradually
10 suppress is the slave trade, which is indeed
the sole Objectionable feature Of the Kano mar
ket. This Will be accomplished by degrees
in Zanzibar in Eastern Africa and IN other
parts Of the world where the British flag flies.
Slave raiding Sir Frederick Iugard viii under
no circumstances tolerate Indeed it's suppress
sion has been the supreme object Of his career
in Nyassaland, in Uganda and also in Northern
Nigeria. Without the slave raldinz and with a
cessation of the payment Of tribute in the form
OF slaves by the numerous vassal chiefs 20 the
FUlani rulers Of Kano and Sokoto the slave
trade will quickly vindle and disappear. and In
course OF time slavery will in It's turn vanish
The population OF Sokoto and Of Kano. as in
the other native states OF Nigeria subject to the
British Crown. but governed through native
rulers under English supervision and control.
consist OF the Hausas. who are the most In
dustrioGs and commercially imbued race -
Africa and OF the FUlani who some hundreds 81
years ago overran all Central Africa ard
brought Mahouetan ideas OF religion and Of
civilization into the Dark Continent. The FuIani
conquerors were. however. clever enough 90 die
turb In no way the Kano market the trade
and the industry OF the African countries which
they subjected TO their domination. No
knows the origin Of the Fulanfs who present
ing far more analogy IN point OF type with the
Hovas Of Madagascar and with the Malay
races OF Asia have nothing OF the negroid about
them. The Fulanis are essentially the aristoc-
racy OF Central and Western Africa. and
that Sir Frederick Lugard has managed 10 per
suade the greater part Of them 90 submit 10
English domination. and has vanqufshed those
who. like the Sultan OF Sokoto and Kano. re-
jected his advances. a new empire may De said
70 have been opened. not only 20 the trade OF
- ~ rrhr