The following table of value of exports shows the progress in the last five years before amalgamation with the Southern Provinces. The subsequent years are given at the end of this chapter.
Values of Exports
| 1908 | 1909 | 1910 | 1911 | 1912 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Rubber | 33,050 | 40,000 | 37,900 | 53,511 | [8] |
| Shea nut products | 70,900 | 93,050 | 43,150 | 40,496 | 51,409 |
| Palm kernels | 47,150 | 41,750 | 66,100 | 52,637 | 64,432 |
| Groundnuts | 13,650 | 16,350 | 8,150 | 10,377 | 18,930 |
| Gum[9] | 8,850 | 6,650 | 9,750 | 5,436 | 1,785 |
| Cotton | 1,300 | 4,400 | 1,850 | 945 | [8] |
| Benniseed | 2,000 | 4,000 | 2,300 | 2,582 | 2,972 |
| Fibre | 1,382 | 4,061 | — | — | — |
| Livestock | 2,600 | 1,300 | 3,750 | 6,357 | 9,132 |
| Gutta percha (“Balata”) | — | — | 2,262 | 6,695 | 4,267 |
| Skins and hides[10] | — | — | 5,214 | 37,809 | 68,832 |
| Ostrich feathers | — | — | 2,615 | 7,225 | 12,621 |
RUBBER.—The extent of the export of this commodity from the Northern Provinces was less generally recognised than that from the coast countries, for the reason that the Northern Nigeria’s exports are necessarily shipped from Southern Nigerian ports, and have been included in the statistical figures of that country.
Until 1907 no separate statement was furnished indicating the quantity of rubber actually originating from the Northern Provinces; the whole produce leaving the country by the Southern Nigerian ports made it difficult to ascertain this. The following imperfect records show, however, that the production was of significant extent:
| 1905. | The value of the rubberexported by two of the leading firms in the Northern Provinces wasestimated at £101,207. | |
| 1906. | The amount exported in thesecond half-year was given as 556,701 lbs., valued at £34,344. Theyear’s exports were said to be 574 tons. Estimating the whole atthe same proportionate value as that given for the second half-yearwe have: | |
| 1906. | 1,283,520 lbs. | £79,185 |
| 1907. | 1,187,588 lbs. | £91,074 |
The decrease in recent years is accounted for by the fall which occurred in the price of rubber, but is probably partly due to the extermination of the vines by the wasteful process of preparing root rubber.
Sources.—The following are the trees and plants which have been used for extracting rubber:—
1. Funtumia elastica.—This is only found in a wild state in Southern Kabba and Bassa Provinces, and is recognised under the Yoruba name of “Ire.” Small pieces of fairly well-prepared rubber from this tree are occasionally brought in to Lokoja for sale.
2. Landolphia sp. (probably owariensis).—A clean “red nigger” rubber is sold, and is probably obtained from this species. It is generally of good quality, but not plentiful. It appears to be collected as a scrap rubber, and is made up in small irregular balls.