DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49270#0156
NOTES ON THE NUNGU TRIBE, NASSAWARA PROVINCE, NORTHERN
NIGERIA, AND THE NEIGHBORING TRIBES WHICH USE THE
DUODECIMAL SYSTEM OF NUMERATION
H. F. Mathews
ASSISTANT DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, NIGERIA
The object of these notes is not to give an exhaustive account of the Nungu and sur-
rounding tribes, but to show that the district is worthy of being studied by an anthropo-
logical specialist who would be able to devote his whole time to the work without the inter-
ference of official or commercial duties.
The Nungu tribe is situated roughly between 8° 50' and 9° 6' North Latitude, and
8° 29z and 8° 42z East Longitude. It is surrounded by other tribes with similar, but not
always identical characteristics. These are: — on the east, four clans known as the Arum,
Barrku, Burrza, and Upye, which comprise the Mama Administrative District; on the
north, the Ninzam; on the west and south, the people known collectively as the Mada.
These latter really include groups speaking two distinct languages and divided into clans
each with its own name. The term Mada is applied to them only by aliens, particularly
by the Hausa, and as an official designation.
The district covered by these tribes lies at the southwestern foot of the Bauchi Plateau.
It is made up of very steep and often precipitous hills, and is traversed by four rivers
descending from the plateau, as well as by minor local streams. All these become danger-
ously deep and rapid during the rainy season (May to September). Their beds are formed
of large bowlders. The height of the country above sea level varies from about six hun-
dred to three thousand feet. These foothills are bounded on the south by a wide and
practically unbroken alluvial plain which slopes gently to the banks of the river Benue,
about eighty miles to the south.
The Nungu district contains tin-bearing deposits, which several mining companies
have worked. This has incidentally resulted in the finding of large numbers of neolithic
axes, which seem to be very generally distributed. Two stones bored for use as weights
NIGERIA, AND THE NEIGHBORING TRIBES WHICH USE THE
DUODECIMAL SYSTEM OF NUMERATION
H. F. Mathews
ASSISTANT DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, NIGERIA
The object of these notes is not to give an exhaustive account of the Nungu and sur-
rounding tribes, but to show that the district is worthy of being studied by an anthropo-
logical specialist who would be able to devote his whole time to the work without the inter-
ference of official or commercial duties.
The Nungu tribe is situated roughly between 8° 50' and 9° 6' North Latitude, and
8° 29z and 8° 42z East Longitude. It is surrounded by other tribes with similar, but not
always identical characteristics. These are: — on the east, four clans known as the Arum,
Barrku, Burrza, and Upye, which comprise the Mama Administrative District; on the
north, the Ninzam; on the west and south, the people known collectively as the Mada.
These latter really include groups speaking two distinct languages and divided into clans
each with its own name. The term Mada is applied to them only by aliens, particularly
by the Hausa, and as an official designation.
The district covered by these tribes lies at the southwestern foot of the Bauchi Plateau.
It is made up of very steep and often precipitous hills, and is traversed by four rivers
descending from the plateau, as well as by minor local streams. All these become danger-
ously deep and rapid during the rainy season (May to September). Their beds are formed
of large bowlders. The height of the country above sea level varies from about six hun-
dred to three thousand feet. These foothills are bounded on the south by a wide and
practically unbroken alluvial plain which slopes gently to the banks of the river Benue,
about eighty miles to the south.
The Nungu district contains tin-bearing deposits, which several mining companies
have worked. This has incidentally resulted in the finding of large numbers of neolithic
axes, which seem to be very generally distributed. Two stones bored for use as weights