Political Geography and contains many largo and small states, and there occur also extensive tracts, in which the inhabitants live in a peaceful state of society, without having entered into a political onion. We shall notice these political divisions in the order of the natural regions : I. The Mountain Region of Western Man, or that of the Kong Mountains, is only partially known, between 3* and 7° E. long., and comprehends two extensive countries, Yarriba and Borgoo. The small river 3/Louisan, which falls into the Quorra near 9° 20' N. lat., divides Yarriba from Borgoo. Borgoo seems to extend to a great distance. This region is very populous, and contains meuy villages and towns. The kingdom of Farriba seems to extend west ward to the very boundary-line of Ashantee : on the south-west and south it is separated from the Bight of Benin only by the kingdom of Dahomey and a country called Jaboo. The Quorra divide, Yarriba from the kingdoms of Nyfi and Yaouri. The present capital is Eyeo, or Katunga, which is situated in a fertile valley, about 20 miles from the river Quorra. It ie inclosed by walls built of clay, about 20 feet high, and surrounded by a dry ditch. The walls are built in an oval form, and are about 15 miles in circumference. The king's houses are built of clay and have thatched roofs. A oonsiderable part of the space inclosed by the walls is laid out in gardens or cultivated, and the population is about 20,000 individuals. The second town of the kingdom is Bohoo, which was formerly the capital of the king dom. It has a triple wall, which is rather more than 20 miles in circuit, and is built on the slope of a very gentle and fertile hill, in an exceedingly well-cultivated country.
There are several large towns built on the banks of the Quorra, as Lever or Layaba, near the boundary of Bergo°, which is very extensive and has a great population ; Bajiebo, a flourishing and important trading town of great extent; Lechee, a very large and thriving place; Eggs which is -of considerable extent, and has a large population ; and Kakuoda, which is governed by a sovereign independent of Yarriba, and consists of three or four considerable villages, situated within a short distance of one another. On the road leading from Badagry to Eyeo several other large towns are situated. Between Eyoo and Bohoo are Eetcho, Atoopa (6000 inhabitants), and Jagdta, a large and well-fortified town. South-west of Bohoo is Kooso, a large double-walled town, which has 20,000 inhabitants, and is a place of great trade; Chdadoo, with 7000 inhabitants ; Duffoo, with 15,000 inhabitants, and considerable manufactures of cotton-cloth; Assoudo, with 10,000 inhabitants; Asaula, with 6000 inhabitants; and Jenna, with from 8000 to 10,000 inhabitants.
Within the territories of the kingdom of Yarriba the Felldtahs have established some independent states, among which the towns of Race*, not far from Eyeo towards the north-east, and Alorie, south west of the capital, are said to be very populous.
Borgoo, which lies to the north of Yarriba, consists, so far as we know, of ten states, governed by independent kings, and loosely con nected with one another. The most powerful is the sovereign of Niki, and he is styled, by way of distinction, king or sultan of Berge°. The countries of the kings of Wawa, Kidma„ and Boosa were visited by Clappertou aud the Landers. The capitals have the names of the countries. Kitima is built on the southern side of a rocky ridge, and surrounded by an extensive low clay wall; it is a commercial town, with 30,000 inhabitants. The houses consist of circular huts, built of clay and thatched. Inside the walls are plantations of corn and yams. Wawa, or Wowow, is a very neat aud compactly built town, in the form of a square ; it is surrounded by a good high clay wall and dry ditch. The streets are wide and airy, and the houses are of circular form, as in Kidma. The town of Boossa is built on the banks of the western arm of the Quorra, which at this place divides into three branches, and it contains from 10,000 to 12,000 inhabitants. The houses are built in clusters inside the wall, and do not occupy above one-tenth of the ground inclosed.
Two caravan roads ,traverse this region, and are much frequented by merchants from Houssa and other countries of Central Africa. The most northern passes through Kiiima, and the southern through Bohoo and Kooso. These two roads lead to Oonja, a country lying west north-west, either within the range of the Kong Mountains or along their northern base. The frequent fairs and market-days, which are regularly held in all the larger towns, show the degree of civilisation which this country has attained.
IL The southern part of the Plain of Western Sddan presents a remarkable instance of people living in society, and having attained a certain degree of civilisation,without entering into close political union. Towards the west, near the boundary of Soolima in Sierra Leone, and of Foots Jallon in Senegambia, there are some small states, among which we know Sangara, Amens, Kankan, and Wasaoolo ; but east of 7° W. long. each town and village, according to Caillid, is independent of the neighbouring towns and villages. Each place is inhabited by a mixture of Mandingoea, who are Mohammedans, aud of Bambarras, most of whom are pagans. Still they live peaceably together, and the elders of each nation decide the differences arising among the people belonging to their nation. In this region no large towns are met with : some of them, which are situated on the caravan roads, contain a population of from 5000 to 7000 inhabitants, as Kankan, Tangrera, Toomaneh, and Dooasso. Kayaye is said to be a larger place, but it has not bei n visited by Europeans. The commerce of this country is not considerable, and consists almost exclusively in the transport of the colatanuts from Gonja to the countries on the banks of the Joliba, where salt is the principal article taken in exchange.