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 14: HOUSSAYE Ion. 8 40' E. Katagum, E. by N. of Kano, has from 7,000 to 8,000 inhabitants. Sackatoo, in the N. W. part of the country, has upward of 20,000 inhabitants, and has one of the best sup- plied markets in central Africa. Wurno, 15 m. N. E. of Sackatoo, on the river Rima, is a new town founded in 1831 ; its population is about 12,000. Zaria, the capital of the province of Zegzeg, is in lat. 10 69' N. and Ion. 8 E. ; it is surrounded by a beautiful and highly cul- tivated country, and its population is estimated at 50,000. Houssa is well watered, being traversed by the rivers Sackatoo, Mariadi, Zirmie. Bugga, Zoma, and other tributaries of the Niger. It is considerably elevated above the sea, and its climate is consequently cooler and more healthy than that of the other coun- tries of central Africa. The land is well culti- vated, the principal crop being Indian corn, of which two harvests are annually produced. Cotton is largely raised, and Kano is famous throughout central Africa for its dyed cloths. Tobacco, indigo, rice, and various kinds of grain and fruits are diligently cultivated. At Sackatoo there are extensive manufactures of leather, iron, and cotton cloths ; and an active commerce is carried on in all the cities by means of open markets, which are frequented by traders from the neighboring countries and from remote parts of the continent. The people of Houssa are mostly Mohammedans. They have attained to some degree of civiliza- tion, have a written language, and have his- torical records reaching back to the 13th cen- tury of our era. They were converted to Mo- hammedanism in the 16th century, and were conquered by the Foolahs in 1807, when Kat- sena, then their principal city, surrendered after a desperate defence of seven years. IlOl'SSAYK. I. Arsene, a French author, born at Bruyeres, near Laon, March 28, 1815. While young he went to Paris, where his two novels, La couronne de bluets and La pecheresse, ap- peared in 1836. The friendship of Jules Janin and Theophile Gautier, and his association in work with Jules Sandeau, aided to establish him in the literary world. From 1844 to 1849 he was editor of L 1 Artiste, and his Histoire de la peinture flamande et hollandaise (fol., 1846) was aided by a subscription of 50,000 francs from the government. This work was receiv- ed with popular favor, although charged with plagiarism. At the revolution of 1848 he was thrown into political prominence, and was an unsuccessful candidate for the assembly. He was manager of the Theatre Francais from 1840 to 1856, and he became one of the most notorious courtiers of the second empire. In 1861 he became one of the proprietors and the managing editor of La Presse. His numerous writings include poetry, plays, essays, and pop- ular sketches of celebrated and fashionable women. Among them are Nos grandes dames (4 vols., 1868), Les Parisiennes (4 vols., 1869-'70), and Mademoiselle Cleopdtre (new ed., 1874). II. Henry, a French author, son of the prece- IIOUSTON ding, born in Paris, Feb. 24, 1848. He be- came known in 1867 by his Histoire d'Apelles, and his subsequent works include Histoire d'Alcibiade et de la republique athenienne depuis la mart de Pericles jusqu'd, Vatenement des trente tyrans (2 vols., Paris, 1874). IIOUSTOIVt I. A central county of Georgia, bounded E. by the Ocinulgeo river, which is navigable by steamboats, and drained by seve- ral of its affluents ; area, 875 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 20,406, of whom 15,332 were colored. The surface is undulating, and the soil, of limestone formation, is very fertile. The Southwestern railroad passes through the county. The chief productions in 1870 were 3,536 bushels of wheat, 363,895 of Indian corn, 40,107 of sweet potatoes, and 3,819 bales of cotton. There were 834 horses, 2,730 mules and asses, 1,502 milch cows, 3,890 other cattle, and 10,963 swine; 1 manufactory of agricul- tural implements, 3 of carriages, 1 of cotton goods, 1 flour mill, and 7 saw mills. Capital, Perry. II. A S. E. county of Texas, bounded E. by Neches river, and W. by Trinity river, both navigable ; area, 1,090 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 8,147, of whom 3,542 were colored. It has a highly fertile soil, and a rolling surface diversified in some places with hills, and well timbered with oak, pine, ash, hickory, black walnut, &c. The Houston and Great North- ern railroad traverses it. The chief produc- tions in 1870 were 33,163 bushels of Indian corn, 5,779 of sweet potatoes, and 920 bales of cotton. There were 297 horses, 2,684 cattle, and 3,171 swine. Capital, Crockett. HI. A N. W. county of Tennessee, formed since the census of 1870, bounded W. by the Tennessee and N. E. by Cumberland river ; area, about 350 sq. m. The surface is undulating and the soil fertile. The Louisville and Nashville and Great Southern railroad passes through the N. part. The assessed value of property in 1871 was $344,775. Capital, Erin. IV. A S. E. county of Minnesota, separated on the E. from Wisconsin by the Mississippi, bordering on Iowa on the S., and intersected by Root river ; area, about 575 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 14,936. The surface is undulating and mostly wooded, only about a fifth being occupied by prairies. The soil, resting on magnesian limestone, is very fertile. The Southern Minnesota and the Chicago, Dubuque, and Minnesota railroads intersect it. The chief productions in 1870 were 623,557 bushels of wheat, 249,761 of In- dian corn, 227,688 of oats, 31,182 of barley, 32,065 of potatoes, 27,560 Ibs. of hops, 14,286 of wool, 229,183 of butter, and 14,776 tons of hay. There were 2,917 horses, 3,614 milch cows, 4,536 other cattle, 4,697 sheep, and 6,305 swine ; 1 car factory, 6 flour mills, and 2 saw mills. Capital, Caledonia. HOUSTON, a city and the capital of Harris co., Texas, the second city in the state in pop- ulation and importance, situated at the head of tide water on Buffalo bayou, 45 m. above its mouth in Galveston bay, 46 N. W. of Galves-