or SOUDAN ("The Land of the Blacks"), are names applied to the central regions of Africa; and, as used by Europeans, include the country lying south of the Sahara, and north of 6° N. Lat., bounded by Egypt and Abyssinia on the E., and by the nations on the western coast on the W. Until near the close of last century little was known of this extensive country; but in 1790 Houghton, who was the first European traveller in Central Africa, entered Nigritia from the west; and since that time several other discoverers have explored the western and central parts of this region, though the eastern part has not yet been visited by travellers. The principal mountains in Western Nigritia are the Kong chain, which stretches from W. to E. along the south of the country; and the principal river is the Niger, Quorra, or Jobila. The land is generally flat; and being watered by the annual overflowing of the rivers, as well as by the rains, there are some tracts of considerable fertility, on which maize, millet, rice, tobacco, cotton, &c., are raised. The climate is very hot and sultry, except during the rainy season, which extends from August to October. Central Nigritia consists of a mountainous and a flat region, the former lying to the W., and the latter to the E., of the 11th degree of E. Long. The mountains do not probably rise above 1000 or 1200 feet above the sea, and the country between them is occupied with forests and marshes. The level part of this district extends round Lake Tschad, and is watered by its tributaries. It is one of the largest tracts of inland alluvial ground in the world. The soil is very fertile, but the rank vegetation renders cultivation difficult; and the climate, though hot, is not unhealthy. Nigritia is divided into several smaller states, of which the principal are Bambarra, Timbuktu, Houssa, Bornu, Baghermi, Waday, Darfur, and Adamaua. (For an account of these, see Africa.)