Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/387

 ADMINISTRATION OF HAUSSA LAND. 823 Such are the markets of Ya, on a headstream of the Kaduna, and Sango-Katah, one day's march farther south, " the centre of five hundred small hamlets lying close together." Birni n' Gwari, capital of the province of Gwari (Gbari), between Saria and Yauri, lies still within the Fulah empire, and maintains commercial relations with the Niger through Kontokora, and with Bida through the valley of the Marigo, chief western affluent of the Kaduna. In the Abuja country, east of Bida, which also belongs to the Fulah State, the principal ti*ading-place is Ugga (Eggan), on the right bank of the Niger, at the point where it trends southwards to join the Benue. Egga, which is a large place, unfortunately situated in a swampy, malarious district, already comes within the sphere of British trade, the town and territory forming part of the domain protected by the Royal African Company. Over 30 miles lower down and on the same side lies Ighido (Biiddu), capital of the Kakanda (Elfon, Shebi) nation, who are the agents for the transit trade between the Lower and Middle Niger. Some of them make long journeys into Haussa Land and even as far as Air, and occasionally maintain direct relations with the people of Ghadames. Administration of Haussa Land. The Fulah empire, founded by Othman at the beginning of the centurj^ although now divided into the two kingdoms of Wurno (Sokoto) and Gando, still maintains a certain political unity, the suzerainty of Wurno being fully recognised by the western state. In other respects the whole territory consists of distinct kingdoms, each with its local organisation, and attached to the suzerain only by the annual tribute. In the hilly districts some tribes even still maintain their independence, while the frontiers of the vast domain constantly fluctuate with the vicissitudes of wars and revolts. Now also the sovereign power of the Fulah monarchs is notably diminished by the commercial concessions that have been made to the English company in the southern regions on the banks of the Niger and Benue. The revenue of the Haussa sultans must be considerable compared with that of other African potentates. In the middle of the century those of the single kingdom of Kano were already estimated by Barth at ninety million cowries, or £7,200, the annual impost being at that time five hundred cowries for every head of a family. The two kings of Sokoto' and Gando might easily raise an army of a hundred and twenty thousand men, including thirty thousand cavalry. The royal authority is limited by a ministry, the nomination and functions of which are regulated by custom. The ghaladima, or prime minister, always enjoys considerable power, and under him, in order of precedence, follow the chief of the cavalry, the commander of the infantry, the cadi — who is at the same time the executioner— the heir to the throne, the chief of the slaves, and the minister of finance. Most of the petty states are organised after the model of the kingdom of