179 CHAPTER VIII.

Description of Bondoo—Extent—Boundaries—Face of the Country— Productions — Commerce— Manufactures—' Government—Revenues—Religion its influence on the Inhabitants—Their Description, DresS;, and Manner of Living—Military Equipments—Force—Mode of Warfare—Cause of War with Karta—Almamy's sanguinary conduct—Attack of the Kartans on Boolibany.

Bondoo, which is situate between 14"* and 15° latitude north, and 10" and IS" longitude west, is bounded on the north by the kingdom of Kajaga, on the south by Tenda and Dentilla, on the east by the Fa-lemme, Bambouk and Logo, and on the west by Foota Toro, the Simbani Woods, and Woolli ; its greatest extent from east to west does not exceed ninety British miles, and from north to south sixty.

The whole face of the country is in general mountainous, but particularly so in the northern and eastern parts. Those mountains which are chiefly composed of rock are small, and for the most part thinly covered with low stunted wood, little of it being fit for any other use than that of fuel.

The valleys, wherein are situated the towns N 2