Human Porterage in Nigeria in the Nineteenth Century: A Pillar in the Indigenous Economy

The carriage of goods by man at the same time as he transports himself by walking has been neglected in the economic history of Nigeria. This paper brings out the role of human porterage vis–vis the economy of Nigeria in the 19th century. In order to understand how human porterage worked in the country, distinctions are made between the employment of porters for short distances and for long ones; and between the use of household porters by the indigenous traders and paid porters by the European travel and paid porters by the European travellers. Problems connected with estimating speed of porters and costs of transportation are also analysed. Notes.