BOR'NII, a powerful state of Central Africa, extending bctween lat. 10° and 15° n., and long. 12' and 18' e.. and bounded on the e. by Lake Tsad, s. by Mandara, w. by Hausa, and n. by Kanem and the Sahara. The greater part fif the country is perfectly level, and much of it is liable to be overflowed in the rainy season. which lasts from Oct, to April, when fevers and other Ilisease,s consequently prevail. The heat from Mar. to June is- excessive, ranging front 107' F. The two principal rivers are the Shary and the Yeou or Yo, both of which fall into 111.1 Tsad. The soil is fertile, and although the cultivation is very imperfect, produces plentiful crops of maize, millet, barley, rice, various kinds of pulse, cotton, and indigo. The inhabitants possess ele phants, horses, buffaloes, oxen, sheep, etc. Wild beasts, as lions, panthers, etc., are very numerous, having their chief haunts in the forests which occur only in the vicinity of the rivers, and which abound also in birds of many kinds, snakes, crocodiles, etc. Wild bees arc extremely plentiful. The country produces no iron, that which is used brought from 3laudara. Much care is bestowed upon the manufacture of coats
of-innil, both for horses and their riders. The only other manufacture carried to any considerable extent is that of cotton cloth, which is dyed with beautiful blue stripes by means of indigo, and much exported to Fezzan. The population, which is estimated at• about five millions, are mostly of negro race, and called Kanowrv. The ruling race, called Shouas, are of Arab descent, and bigoted Mohammedans; but many traces of Fetishism remain among the masses. Whatever they have of civilization is derived from the Arabs. The slave-trade is eagerly prosecuted, and gives occasion to many warlike expeditions. B. appears to have existed as a state for ninny centuries, but in the beginning of the present century it was conquered by the Fellatalis, whose voke, however, was soon shaken off, under the leadership of a fanatic faki, named ,Moham med el Amin, whose services were called in by the sultan. On Mohammed's death, his son Omar became ruler of B. instead of the sultan. Dr. Nachtigal, who visited 13. in .1,70, describes it as rapidly decaying.