The Bauchi tin won by the Niger Company is of rich quality, and commands a considerably higher price than ordinary English tin; but while Lord Scarborough persistently told the public of the results of their operations, mining was not energetically proceeded with, and as has been said the new field attracted less attention than it deserved. But as prospecting work in the district became more general, it was realised from the virgin nature of the area, the cheapness and abundance of labour available in the district, and the enormous extent of the surface deposits, that the regions were extremely valuable and presented potentialities of great and continuous profits. In the face of this later information the first feeling of scepticism with which the discovery was received passed away, doubt yielded to confidence, and it was soon known that some of the most astute and influential groups in the City were interested in the exploitation of the new field. But although the future of the Bauchi tin district was assured, it was necessary for some one to be first in the systematic development of the new field. Every report emanating from the colony confirmed the story of the richness of Nigerian tin, and a Royal Colonial Institute address had admitted that “if the professional reports were anything like approximately correct and the supply is regulated, a fabulous amount of wealth is waiting to be extracted,” but the opportunity to make fortunes out of Northern Nigeria was neglected until the Champion Gold Reefs of West Africa, Ltd., who had abandoned their gold property on the Gold Coast, boldly threw their remaining capital of £12,000 into the new field. THE PIONEERS OF NORTHERN NIGERIAN TIN