YOLA

The Résident describes the attitude of the Yola Fulani as very satisfaotory, even thougb somewhat apalhetic. Many are now to be seen working on the land with their slaves, a position they must feel keenly, and it is remarkable tbat the number of emigrants is so Gomparatively small. I anticipate that the near future will bring a large immigration of fugitive slaves and of Pagans to Yola, which will more than counterbalance the émigration of the Fulani slave-dealers.

Further north the migration is towards British territory. The Emir is very loyal, but is not popular. Fifty-three slaves were freed, but the number who bave left tbeir masters without référence to the Government is vastly in excess of this. In this province the slaves are reported to be idle and threaten their masters with désertion, so that the latter are compelled to pamper and concilîate them. On the other hand, the famine in the Pagan districts bas induced large numbers to corne and work for food and shelter, so that I trust that, although the Fulani are at présent experiencing a very trying time, the object lesson of free labour is already taking effect, and the Pagans finding that they are no longer enslaved will the more readily come forward in future as free labourers. There is now little slavedealing in the province, but slaves are smuggled from the large slave market of the Mao Kalai, just inside the German frontier south of Yola, to tbe Benue (from wbicb it is only two days' distant), and elaborate précautions are taken to prevent capture. Eflfec-

se racheter pour un prix raisonnable et disposent de plus de temps pour travailler à leur profit; il y a lieu de remarquer aussi que les esclaves fugitifs ne peuvent disposer de terres sans permission. Les chefs, d autre part, cherchent à introduire, en vue de remplacer le travail servile, ce qu'ils appellent a les esclaves du blanc », c'est-à-dire les machines ou plutôt de simples instruments aratoires.

ILLORIN.

Trois esclaves seulement ont été libérés. Suivant les rapports, la traite n'existe plus, mais la mise en gage des individus se pratique encore.