BORNOU, or BORNU, formerly a Su danese kingdom. The native independent state had an area of about 50,000 square mild, one portion of which is now included in northern Nigeria (British) and other portions to Ger many and France; lying between lat. 10° and 15° N., and long. 12° and 16° 30' E. From March to July the heat is extreme, the ther mometer rising to 107° and rarely falling below 86° F.; during this time scorching winds from the south prevail. As in other tropical coun tries the seasons are divided into the dry and rainy: the latter continues from March to Oc tober, when the air becomes milder and fresher. The country is populous, containing 13 princi pal towns. These are generally large and well built, with walls 40 feet high and about 20 feet thick. The houses consist of several court yards, with apartments for slaves, habitatioris for the different wives and several turrets con nected by terraces, forming the apartments of the owner. The Bornou people, or Kanuri, have negro features; they are peaceable and industrious, practising agriculture and various mechanical arts. The government is an abso lute monarchy, with certain constitutional forms, and the Sultan of Mai can, it is said, muster a well-equipped army of 25,000 or 30,000 men, partly cavalry, armed with musket, rifle, sabre, etc. Indian corn, cotton and indigo are the most valuable productions of the soil.
Fruits and vegetables are also raised. The do mestic animals are asses, camels, horses, dogs, sheep, goats and oxen. Lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals, elephants and buffaloes roam the for ests. The crocodile and hippopotamus are considered a luxury. The ostrich, pelican, crane and guinea-fowl abound. Locusts often appear in great clouds, and are eaten by the natives. The capital until 1908 was Kuka, near the shore of Lake Chad. Its population is about 60,000. The present capital is Maidugari, where the Sheku, or native ruler resides. In the 12th century Bornou was invaded by the Mohammedans, and a fierce struggle ensued for 200 years in which the natives were brought completely under the Moslem yoke. The king dom prospered and reached its greatest degree of expansion toward the close of the 16th cen tury, after which a decline set in. The Fel latahs conquered it early in the 19th century, but were expelled by Mohammed el Kanemi, who set up his government at Kuka, and took the title of Sheik. His son Omar succeeded him and he in turn was succeeded by Abu Bekr in 1882. Barth, Nachtig-al and other travelers are about the sole sources of our information of Bornou and its people. Pop. about 5,000,000.