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Northern Nigeria—A Study in Political Geography JOHN B. APPLETON Seripps College, Claremont, California Between the. vast arid oxpnnso of tho Sahara and tho dense tropical rain forests along the Guinea Coast lie the provinces which constitute Northern Nigeria. Politically tho region is interesting in that tho regulations laid down by tho League of Nations for tho government of mandated territory were based upon tho policy which Lord Lugard and his associates had formulated in. Nigeria, From tho densely forested, swampy, coastal pinin the land risos gradually to a belt of comparatively level park-like country which finally merges into the sandy wastes of the Sahara, Tho continuity of the Tegion is broken by the Baucbi Plateau, an extensivo area of ruggod highland some 4000 feet above sea level, long an area of refuge. Northern Nigeria expurienc ös a definite rhythm of wo't and dry seasons, temperature and aridity increasing from south to north. Vegetation is closely adjusted to rainfall conditions, the rain forest of the south giving way successively to bolts of deciduous trees, orchard bush, savannah, and finally of thorn forest. Because of heavier precipitation , vegetation on the Bauchi Plateau is more luxuriant than on" tho surrounding plain. Tho distribution and character of tho population wore determined largely by the trans-Saharan trade routes which converged on Kano and Sokoto, which early bocame tho centers of relatively densely peopled areas. This is still tho most densely populated part of tho country. Southward tho population thins out but in recent years there has been a noticeable increase in settlement there owing to the establishment of economic security and the abolition of tho slave tredc under British rule. The country was settled by a succession of infiltrations from tho north, the weaker peoples being pushod southwards into tho rugged fastnosses of the plateau region and into the rain forest belt. Of those invaders, tho Hausas, Bornueso, and Fulani, none of whom wore negroid, have long been the dominant groups. Tho outstanding trait of tho lattor has been their aptitude for effective rule and organization, and it was upon the tribal organization and institutions which they doveloped that tho present system of "Indirect Rule" was founded. Northern Nigeria is primarily an agricultural country and through the years the natives have doveloped an agricultural system which is closely adapted to Nigerian conditions and needs. Food crops, principally millet, guinea corn, gero, and maize, are interplanted with cotton. "Shifting Cultivation" is the general nil« since the non-use of fertilizer results in rapid soil oxhaustion. The British have deliberately set themselves tho task of improving rather than changing native practices with the object of raising, not export crops, but the .standard of living of the people, Nigeria is tho only country where the principio of trusteeship is actually applied, Native handicrafts have long supplied tho main articles of commerce by the Hansn traders, Tho production of cotton cloth, leatherwaro, and metal products, has likewise been encouraged and equipment suitod to tho needs and means of the native craftsman introduced. The building of railroads and roads has favored tho expansion of internal trade and stimulated native production . Taxation, levied through tho native rulers, has been regularized although the traditional sources have been retained. Revenue is likewise expended through native organizations. Considerable attention •is being given to social reform, especially in respect to health, sanitation, education, and other local needs* Every phase «f political control is exorcised through tho appropriate nativo official. In this way the foreign control is less likely to provoke opposition and yet bo able to achieve its ends—tho ordered development of Nigerin for the Nigerians. Apart from agriculture Northern Nigeria has rathor limited resources. Of these allnviol tin doposits in tho Bauehi Platoau aro tho most important and constitute the main export commodity. Under the present regime, largely through tho building of railways, production has been facilitated, and the country ranks fourth in world output. The British have boon able to establish ii·. Northorn Nigeria a successful system of colonial government hasod upon tho use of indigenous institutions which havo been evolved over a long period of timo and which are closely adapted to environmental conditions. Many pi-obloms...

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