Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/385

 forming a regular polygon, has a circuit of over 12 miles, and the broad thorough-fares are lined with shops stocked with wares from EurojDe and Africa. Fairs are held every five days in this republican city, which was founded in 1790 by fugitives from all parts of Yoruba, who, in Lander's time, occupied twelve separate quarters, each belonging to a different tribe and represented by an elder in the

general council. At present the Mohammedan Fulahs predominate, although most of the inhabitants are still pagans.

Bida, capital of Nué, occupies the centre of the peninsular district limited southwards by the Niger, west and north by the Kaduna afiluent, and watered by the Lauja, which flows through the Baku to the main stream. Although of