Along the banks of the river Quorra, from north to south, are Yitoori, Nyfi, and Funda. The capital of Ydoori bears the same name. It is a place of great extent and very populous, and is surrounded by a high wall upwards of twenty miles in circuit. The space iucloaed is covered with clusters of huts, between which are cultivated tracts. In this place very neat saddles, country cloth, and gunpowder are manufactured. Where the countries of Ydeori and Nyfi join one another is the basin of the river May-yarrow, which is extremely fertile and thickly inhabited. There are here several large towns. Tabra, on both sides of the river, about 30 miles above its mouth, has about 20,000 inhabitants; Koolfu, on the northern banks of the river, a central point of inland trade, about 15,000 inhajaitanta ; Rajadawa, about 7000 inhabitants ; Womba, about 11,000 inhabitants ; and Gnarl, a large and well fortified place, is the seat of a negro chief, who has made himself independent of Houssa. The capital of Nyfi is the town of Nyfi, which is known over all Western Africa for the excellent cotton-cloth made there. In Nyfi is the town of Rabba, built on the banks of the Quorra, on a gentle slope. It is the empo rium of all the surrounding countries to a great distance, and several articles are brought to this place from Tripoli on the Mediterranean. It contains a population exceeding 40,000, and has manufactures of saddles and bridles made of red and yellow leather, cloth, shoes, boots, aud sandals. Opposite the town, and near the western banks of the Quorra, lies the island of Zag6zhi, which is 15 miles long aria 3 miles in breadth, and being low is partly inundated in the rainy season. The inhabitants are partly sailors and fishermen, and partly employed in the manufacture of country cloth, whioh is of excellent quality.
There are several other branches of useful manufactures. Funds, the capital of the kingdom of Funds, is situated near the banks of the river Shary; it contains about 30,000 inhabitants, and- has some manufactures of cotton cloth.
In the central districts of this region we are only acquainted with the countries of Zegzeg, Kano, Kashna, and Howse. proper. Zegzeg apparently extends between V and 11° E. long., 9° and 12° N. lat. In this country is the town of Kuttup, near 9° 40' N. lat., which comprises nearly 500 small villages, almost adjoining each other, and occupying nearly the whole of a vast and beautiful plain. A con siderable traffic is carried on herein slaves and bullocka. Eggebee (near 9' E. long., 10° 50' N. let) is a very large and extremely neat town, surrounded with a high wall, and situated in the centre of a fine and highly cultivated plain. Zaria, or Zegzeg, the capital of this country, is inclosed by good walls, and contains a population of between 40,000 and 50,000, but a large portion of the area is occupied by swamps, corn-fields, and green plots. Rice of the finest quality is raised in the neighbourhood, and sent to distant countries. North of Zegzeg is Kano. Among the most remarkable places is Baebaegie (11' 84' N. lat., 9' 13' E. long.), which is built in the midst of a large plain, and contains about 20,000 or 25,000 inhabitants, who are all engaged in trade. East of it is the town of Girkwa, a large place; and north west of Girkwa is Kano, the capital of the country, and, as it appears, the most commercial town of Central Africa. It contains about 40,000 inhabitants, of whom more than one-half are slaves. During the dry months this place is resorted to by numerous travellers from all parts of Africa, from the Mediterranean and the Mountains of the Moon, and from Sennaar and Ashantee. The city is of an irregular oval shape, about 15 miles in circumference, and surrounded by a clay wall 30 feet high, with a dry ditch in the inside, and another on the out side. Kano is both a commercial and a manufacturing town, and the
division of labour is carried to a considerable extent. Within the walls of the city is a separate district or village for blind people, who are maintained at the expense of the government In the country of Kashna are the large towns of Jaza, Ratah, and Kutri, but the largest is the capital, also called Kuhns, which is an important commercial town.
In Houses proper, which lies west of Kaahna, is the large town of Zirmie, and the capital, Sackatoo, or Socketoo, which is built on the banks of the river Zirmie, which runs south-west, and is said to join the Quern'. Sackatoo was built about the year 1805, by Danfodio, the Fellittah conqueror. The houses are laid out in regular well-built streets, and come close up to the walls. The walls are between 20 and 30 feet high, and have twelve gates, which are regularly closed at sun-set. The inhabitants are principally Felldtahs, and possess numerous slaves, of whom • considerable number are employed In manufacturing cotton stuffs, and in tanning and iron-work. The commerce of Sockatoo is important IV. Nearly the whole of the alluvial plain of Central &Ulan con stitutes the kingdom of Bornon, or may be considered as an appendage to it. [Boaxon.] It contains many towns, inure of which are very populous. The capital, Konica, is only a few miles distant from the banks of Lake Tchad. It is the residence of the sheik, and may have a population exceeding 10,000. The walls are well built of clay, and the whole space inclosed by them is occupied with houses, but the extensive market In the centre and some other open places take up about one-fourth of the area. Aogornou, the largest and most popu lous place in Bornou, is likewise only a few miles from the Tchad. It contains above 30,000 inhabitants, but is • straggling place without walls. It is the principal commercial town of the country, where the caravans arriving from Fezzan or from Kano dispose of their goods. A few miles W. from Angornon is New Birnie, the residence of the sultan, which contains about 10,000 inhabitants. Farther south are the towns of Dugoa, with 30,000 Inhabitants, and A Espy, with 20,000 inhabitants. On the banks of the river Shary is Loggan, where much cotton-cloth is made and dyed. On the banks of the river Yeou are the towns of }Caballed, Kiskabonee, Bedeekarfl, and Katgnm. Burwha, north of the mouth of the river Yeoo, and not far from Lake Tchad, is a well-fortified place, with *bout 5000 inhabitants.
South of Borman is the kingdom of Mandan, which extends from 10' 30' to 9' 30' N. lat. Steep and rather high ridges' inclose wide and open valleys, which are abundantly watered, and on this account, as well as the fertility of the soil, it Is rich in natural productions, well cultivated, and densely peopled. The inhabitants are exclusively negroes, and are governed by a sovereign of their own race. The valleys of Mandan contain some considerable towna. Delow contains at least 10,000 inhabitants, and Mora, the residence of the sultan, is a strongly-fortified place, but of less extent.
Eastern &Man extends from 17' to 25' E. long. According to information (tarnished to European travellers by natives of Africa, who visited this district, it is divided Into three countries or states. Kariens is contiguous to the eastern banks of Lake Tchad, and south of it lies Begharmi.
As • comparatively small portion of Bilden has been seen by Europeans, it would be premature to give a decided opinion as to the raspy. Importance of this part of Africa. But if we may judge from what we know of it, we must pronounce it superior to any other part in fertility, cultivation, and population.
(Park ; Caillid; Denham, Clapperton, and Oudney ; Richard and John Lander ; Laird and Oldfield.)