“ The chief buildings are the palace of the emir and the houses of the baloguns (war chiefs) . From the centre of the town roads radiate like spokes of a wheel to the various gates. Baobabs and other shade trees are numerous. ”

“ Illorin is a great trading centre, Hausa caravans bringing goods from central Africa, and merchandise from the coasts of the Mediterranean, which is distributed from Illorin to Dahomey, Benin and the Lagos hinterland, while from the Guinea coast the trade is in the hands of the Yoruba and comes chiefly through Lagos. A variety of manufactures are carried on, including the making of leather goods, carved wooden vessels, finely plaited mats, embroidered work, shoes of yellow and red leather and pottery of various kinds. ”