CALABAR (formerly OLD CALABAR), a port of British West Africa, capital of a province of southern Nigeria, on the left bank of the Calabar river in 4° 56' N., 8° i8' E., 5m. above the point where the river falls into the Calabar estuary of the Gulf of Guinea, and 4om. from the sea. (Pop. about 25,00o.) From the beach rise cliffs of moderate elevation, and on the sides or summits of the hills are the principal buildings. In a valley between the hills is the native quarter, called Duke Town. Here are several fine houses in bungalow style, the residences of the chiefs or wealthy natives. Among the public institutions are Government botanical gardens, primary schools and the Hope Waddell insti tute for technical training. Palms, mangoes and other trees give the town a picturesque setting. The trade is largely centred in the export of palm oil and palm kernels and the import of cotton goods. Vessels drawing loft. of water can ascend to Calabar. There is no bar in the Calabar river, which is well buoyed, but cargo has to be landed from lighters.
Calabar was the name given by the Portuguese discoverers of the i 5th century to the tribes on this part of the Guinea coast at the time of their arrival. It was not till the early part of the 18th century that the Efik, owing to civil war with their kindred and the Ibibio, migrated from the neighbourhood of the Niger to the shores of the river Calabar. The native inhabitants are still mainly Efik. For several generations they were the middlemen between the white traders on the coast and the tribes of the Cross river and Calabar district. Many of the natives are well educated, profess Christianity and dress in European fashion. A powerful bond of union among the Efik, and one that gives them considerable influence over other tribes, is the secret society known as the Egbo. The chiefs of Duke Town and other places in the neigh bourhood placed themselves in 1884 under British protection. Until 1904 Calabar was generally, and officially, known as Old Calabar, to distinguish it from New Calabar, the name of a river and port about loom. to the east. Since the date mentioned the official style is Calabar simply. Calabar estuary is mainly formed by the Cross river (q.v.), but receives also the waters of the Calabar and other streams. The estuary is i o to i 2m. broad at its mouth and maintains the same breadth for about 3o miles.