Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-12
KANO AND SOKOTO
CENTERS OF TRADE IN NEW ENG
LIsH TERRITORY IN AFRICA.
Millions of Natives Annually Visit
These Busy Cities Of the
Dark Continent
From the New York Tribune.


The other day Colonial Secretary Cham
that King Edwards dominions in western
Africa had been augmented by the annexa-
ton of a tract of over 100, 600 square miles
large as the states of New York, Pennsyl-
vania and New Jersey combined. This ad-
dition to the British empire has been ac-
complished by means of conquest, and with
comparatively little loss of life to the Eng
lish forces, which consisted entirely of ma
tive troops commanded by white officers,
both commissioned and on-commissioned.
The mere increase in the size of Eng
lands possessions in the dark continent is
of small Importance. however, compared
to the immense value of the capture of
Kano and of Sokoto from a commercial
point of view. For Kano is. indeed the
principal market and center of trade in the
interior OF Africa, and not only that, but
likewise the center of all sorts of African
industries, Kano, indeed. having been fire.
quently described as the Manchester and
birmingham combined of the dark CONT
nent. Colonial Secretary Chamberlain de-
clareS that the annual attendance of the
market at kano exceeds a million persons
from all parts of Africa, while Colonel Mon
tell, the French explorer, and Edmund d.
Morrell, In his Affairs of West Africa
estimates that the number of natives who
visit kano each year for purposes of trade
is at least twice as large. The market is
held daily throughout the year and the
most bewildering diversity of articles are
always on sale; native cloths, which are
products of the HauSas' looms and dye
pits; sifk-embroidered robes leather and
Drass ware, weapons. rough agricultural
implements silver and brass ornaments
ivory, anthony, ostrich feathers, live stock
of every conceivable description, slaves salt
cakes, natron. European merchandise and
ammunition-all these and a thousand
Things more are on sale in this immense
city, which, inclosed in a lofty encompass
ing wall, is reputed to be no less than six
teen miles in circumference
Caravan Routes.
Many caravan routes converge at Kano
and the procession of heavily laden camels
and asses, of men. mounted and on foot, of
slaves, women and children, seems to be
endless. The market has been held thus
daily on the same site for over a thousand
years, and at the time when William the
Conqueror fought the battle of Hastings
and established himself on the throne of
England it is probable that the daily mar
Ket was In progress at Kano amid sur
roundings almost Identical in form and an
pearance with those of the present day
Each particular class of goods has its
own special market, and thus whereas in
one quarter of Kano one finds nothing but
leather on sale, in another district of the
city the trade is restricted to cloth Every
imaginable type of African may be seen
there, merchants from Egypt, Tunis Trip
OIL ana Morocco, from the eastern Soudan
ana from the shores of the Red sea, as
well as from the western coast which is
washed by the Atlantic Even Zulus ORR
entail Jews, East Indians and Malays are
seen there, and, strange to say not only
mas peace from time immemorial been pre-
yony &c .%,,,
chasers and vendors, but, moreover, they
likewise understand one another carving
on their bargainings by means of signs
The traders have, indeed, sort of Ian
guage which beneath their long sleeves is
carried on by means of diverse grasps of
one another's hands, wrists and arms tn,
oelberauons being in this way concealed
from the onlookers and from the curious.
Rule of Native E,nirs.
General Sir Frederick Lugard. to whom
King Edward is indebted for this notabl
addition to his colonial empire and who
Is the governor general and high commits
sioner of all Great Britain's possessions
in western Africa and Nigeria extending
to the Anglo-Egyptian Soudan proposes
to rule the SultanateS of Sokoto and of
kano IN the same way the other Hausa
states, that is through native emirS ac-
cording to native IDEAS so as not to inter
fere 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 proselytfze. nor will he encourage mis-
sionary activity. but will endeavor to in
spire the natives with confidence in his as
surances that no attempt will be made to
modest their various religions and practices.
The only thing that he will endeavor
gradually to suppress is the slave trade
which is indeed the sole Objectionable fea-
ture of the kano market. This will be ac-
comp1shed by degrees, as in Zanzibar, in
eastern Africa and in other parts of the
world where the British flag flies Slave
raiding Sir Frederick Lugard will under
no circumstances tolerate. Indeed, it's sup
preston has been the supreme object of his
career In Nyassaland. in Uganda and also
in northern Nigeria. Without the slave
rafding. and with a cessation of the pay
ment of tribute in the form of slaves by the
numerous vassal chiefs to the Fulani rulers
OF kano and Sokoto the slave trade will
quickly dwindle and disappear and in
course of time slavery will in it's turn van
iSh