«Англо-египетский Судан: Справочник для офицеров правительства Судана, Том 2»

Khor Amboreb

7½ 120

Khor Barshoi 4 124

Khor Araf

6 130

El Getite

11 141

Umna Dunyin

10 151 The road then goes on down Khor Araf with many twists and turns till the pool of rain-water called Umna Dunyin is reached, about 10 miles from El Getite, but 15 yards long and about 6 yards broad, 4 or 5 feet deep in the centre, will probably last 2 months more. After 2½ miles from Umna Dunyin, J. Hambolib is in sight, round which the khor twists for about 3 miles, till the wells called J. Hambolieb are passed. They are filled up with sand, and only a person who knew them well would know they had ever existed. However, I was told there is water underneath; if so, a small fatigue party could clean out the sand in a few hours. I think Khor Langeb joins Khor Araf just near here, running due E. here. Dom palms, tarfa jungle, and small quantity of green grass on the banks. Five miles up this khor, on left bank, is Bir Oshi, at mouth of small Khor Oshi; the same remarks apply to Bir Oshi as to Bir Araf. Bir Gabati, slightly further on, I was told is the same. There is, I am told, water in Khor Odi, and a big pool at Areiwat, and no lack of water further on. On the right bank on entering Khor Langeb are some graves on a hill, said to be the graves of Roman soldiers; the Hadendoas are afraid of opening them, though they think there is treasure there.

J. Hambolib 2½ 153½

Bir Oshi

4½ 158

Bir Oshi is distant about 48 miles from Bir Tisharam, this is owing to the twists the khor makes, and one is not able to leave Khor Araf often on account of the hills coming down close to the banks of the khor and rendering the ground impassable.

12. — ЭЛЬ-ГЕТИТЕ (в ХОР-АРАФ) до АДАРАМЫ через БИР-ДЕЛАИ и ТЕНДЕРУ.

Капитан Кенрик, сентябрь 1901 г.

Place. Miles. Description.

Inter-mediate. Total.

El Getite — — March from El Getite to junction of Khor Araf with Khor Barshoi (vide previous route report), then march for 2 miles N.W. up Khor Araf almost to its source; the khor narrows here and the path is a little stony in places, then turn W. over a stony plain for 2 miles, very fairly good going until the source of Khor El Ashob is reached. From this place may be sighted sources of Khor Araf and Khor Amboreb, which runs away apparently S.E. There was plenty of grass and shade here. Leaving Khor El Ashob, which runs away to the N.W., afterwards turning S.W. again to join Khor Derudeb, march S.W. to Khor Delai, 7½ miles distant; road stony, but good going on sheep tracks, the stones are not very thick, nor is it rocky. Cross several khors en route, Khor Beida is one of them; there is a little grass in all of these. On reaching Khor Delai, after going a few yards down the khor the well is reached in the centre of the khor, recently cleaned out by the Arabs, but there are none here now. The well is lined with wood.

Khor Barshoi 17 17

Khor El Ashob 4 21

Khor Delai 7½ 28½

Khor Beida — —

Bir Delai

— 28½

Depth to water 3½ feet.

Depth of water (very clean) 10 „

Circumference (approx.) 7 „

Good cattle watering places round the well. Good shade. Some green grass in the khor.

5 33½ After leaving Bir Delai, first march 5 miles along right bank of Khor Delai (looking towards mouth of khor), direction W., cross the khor at the point where it runs slightly N.W. to join Khor El Ashob, then 8 miles over stony, but very level plain, excellent going in cattle tracks and sheep tracks S.W. to pool El Ashob in Khor El Ashob, 40 yards long, 12 feet deep and 8 yards broad. Well filled up, 3 miles to N.W.; could be opened if necessary in khor under dom palm.

Pool El Ashob

8 41½

Khor Derudeb 5 46½ Leave Khor El Ashob, crossing to right bank (looking towards mouth), going in a westerly direction 5 miles to Khor Derudeb, cross this khor. A little cotton soil on E. bank of Khor Derudeb, going otherwise good, over light, stony, sandy soil, but no shade except at the khors. Then N.W. 10 miles further on to Khor Abu Sillem, coming from N. of J. Torbraa range; going good, grass in Khor Abu Sillem, also shade. N.W. still 6 miles further to Khor Breitak, there I found two pools of rain-water, muddy, but sweet. They were in the khor and were about 40 yards long, 6 yards broad and 1 foot deep. About 5 miles of some of the best grazing I have seen in the country. The Sheikh said the water had been there 2 months and would only last 9 days more, another Arab I asked said a month more. The Sheikh also pointed out the road to the N. to Bir Tendera; both he and my guides said half a day’s journey, i.e., 13 miles, easy road, and it looked good what I saw of it. Very good shade here.

Khor Abu Sillem 10 56½

Khor Breitak

6 62½

Bir Tendera

13 75½

Sekotieb 20 95½ From Tendera, Adarama is 40 miles (Arabs 2 days, loaded camels), road easy (there may be a little cotton soil), some shade and grass at Bir Tendera, also some shade at Sekotieb (?), 20 miles (about) from Adarama. The well (Tendera) itself is large, always has water in it.

Adarama 20 115½ This information, though I have seen the road as far as Khor Shedieb and corroborate it so far, is hearsay, as I had not time to go there myself. My informants are my two guides, Sheikh Mohammed Isa and the Mulazim Awal, of Slavery Department at Adarama, all of whom have been there, and many Arabs re water.

Примечание: В высокой траве (сентябрь) было встречено большое количество змей, точно таких же, как индийская кобра. Я убил 4 во время марша. На языке хадендоа они называются «коква», в то время как абабда называют их «дугга».

13. — УМБРЕГА (р. СЕТИТ) до СОФИ (р. АТБАРА).

Капитан Г. Х. С. Морант, март 1900 г.

Примечание: Описание маршрута далее на восток и заметки об этой дороге см. в маршруте 125, Приложение.

Place. Miles. Description.

Inter-mediate. Total.

Umbrega[9] — — From here there is a tolerably distinct track following the crest-line of the plateau, and the river is seen and approachable only occasionally, being always 1 to 4 miles on left. The descents to Meshras Abedo and Godema are passed, and then the burial ground and khor of Torab Karuf, further on the district of Sheikh Ageil and Meshra El Zuhani. From Sheikh Ageil J. Esir and Lukdi are both visible N.N.W. and S.S.W. respectively, latter being on boundary of Hamrans towards Abyssinia.

Abedo

3¾ 3¾

Godema

¾ 4½

K. Turab Karuf 1¼ 5¾

Sheikh Ageil 4 9¾

El Zuhani

1½ 11¼

Gat Wad El Hag 6½ 17¾ Leaving this, the path passes clearings of former cultivation, and after 3 miles of thick bush, Gat Wad El Hag. Meshra El Hagar El Zuruk is reached, and after following bed of river for ½ a mile, plateau is regained, and Gira is next Meshra. On left bank are cliffs, on which are situated the ruins of the old Egyptian Fort. K. Lobetir and K. Wad Heleiwa being crossed, village of latter name, which is the sole existing one of Hamrans at present time, is reached. From here Setit is crossed, and later R. Atbara and village of Sofi is reached.

El Hagar El Zuruk

1¾ 19½

Gira

10½ 30

K. Lobetir 6 36

K. Wad Heleiwa

2 38

Setit

1¼ 39¼

Atbara

7½ 46¾

Sofi

¾ 47½ Little game was seen between Umbrega and Sofi.

[1] Вьючный транспорт.

[2] Для получения более подробной информации о водоснабжении вдоль этого маршрута см. «Отчет о Ниле и стране между Донголой и т. д.», 1898 г.

[3] Означает «красный камень» на языке хадендоа.

[4] «Черный камень» на языке хадендоа.

[5] Топливо следует везти с собой между Ариабом и Махо-Беем.

[6] Из Суакина.

[7] Сейчас много.

[8] Если нет желания идти через итальянскую территорию от этой точки, можно воспользоваться маршрутом, упомянутым в предыдущем отчете, двигаясь вверх по Хор-Лангебу до соединения с Хор-Уинди, а затем вверх по последнему хору около 20 миль, пока не встретится восточная дорога.

[9] Граница Судана и Эритреи здесь проходит от точки на дороге Хафейра — Умбрега, отмеченной деревом хеглиг с зарубкой, прямо к изгибу Сетита непосредственно напротив устья Хор-Ройян, который впадает в Сетит на левом берегу примерно в 11 милях выше Умбреги.

ГЛАВА IV.

(ВОСТОЧНЫЙ СУДАН.)

14. — КАРТУМ-НОРТ до КАССАЛЫ через ГЕЙЛИ, РЕРА-ЭЛЬ-САДДА и ЭЛЬ-СОФЕЙЮ, ДИМИАТ, АСУБРИ.

Полковник достопочтенный М. Г. Тэлбот (январь 1900 г.) с дополнениями капитанов Бульнуа (март 1900 г.) и Моранта (январь 1901 г.).

Общее описание.

Дорога. В это время года (январь) движение хорошее на всем протяжении, за исключением нескольких миль между Ум-Ухейтой и Ум-Руейшидом и первых 5 миль от Реры на восток, где участки тропы очень каменистые. От Эль-Садды до Асубри в настоящее время (1900 г.) нет тропы, поэтому движение не такое хорошее, как в других частях, но для верблюдов препятствий нет. Уклоны на всем протяжении незначительны. Большая часть маршрута проходит по темной пахотной почве, которая должна быть непроходимой во влажном состоянии, поэтому осенью этот маршрут должен быть трудным для верблюдов, по крайней мере, в течение дня после сильного дождя.

До Эль-Эрейгиба много тени; после этого она встречается редко, а на значительных участках отсутствует вовсе.

Реки. Русло Атбары лежит на 100–200 футов ниже уровня окружающих равнин. С обеих сторон оно окаймлено 2–4 милями пересеченной местности, покрытой редким кустарником, через которую тропа проходит с легкими уклонами. Как правило, она непроходима вброд у Асубри с конца июня до середины октября. В эти месяцы путешественники переправляются на лодочном пароме у Сувейхиля, примерно в 5 милях южнее.

Гаш может быть непроходим вброд в течение нескольких дней подряд во время сезона паводков, который длится в июле, августе и сентябре.

Снабжение. Рядом с тропой выращивается довольно много дурры, и кое-что можно получить в нужное время года. Овец и молоко можно найти во многих местах. Дрова можно найти везде до Эль-Гисеймы (66 миль), после этого их очень мало, пока не будет достигнута Атбара.

Вода. Поскольку резервуаров очень много, воды должно быть очень много осенью и в начале зимы.

Колодцы около Эль-Эрейгиба очень глубокие; колодец у Вад-Абу-Салеха оказался глубиной примерно 250 футов.

Все еще есть много колодцев, требующих очистки, и резервуаров, нуждающихся в ремонте. Вода была хорошего качества на всем протяжении, и все посещенные колодцы имели достаточный запас.

Жители. Деревня Ум-Диббан и вся страна до Вад-Абу-Салеха раньше находились под властью Эль-Таиба Абд-эль-Салема, шейха Эль-Собы. Из-за того, что они присоединились к Махди, семья шейха Эль-Обейда возросла в значении и приобрела определенную юрисдикцию над страной к востоку от Ум-Диббана.

Несколько батахинов было встречено до Эль-Гисеймы, после этого практически все были шукрия или те, кто жил с этим племенем, до левого берега Атбары.

Выпас. До Эль-Гисеймы есть отличный древесный выпас, а после этого запас травы настолько велик, что можно понять, как существовали огромные стада, которыми, как утверждают шукрия, они владели в свои лучшие времена.

Увиденная трава никогда не была выше 3 футов. Она не выжжена.

Земледелие. Огромная площадь способна давать хорошие урожаи дурры, если дожди благоприятны.

Дичь. В это время года (январь) между Голубым Нилом и несколькими милями Атбары практически не на кого охотиться.

Place. Miles. Description.

Inter-mediate. Total.

Khartoum North — — Starting E. from the Artillery Lines at Khartoum N., a well marked track is soon struck, which continues up the Blue Nile cutting off corners where it bends. It passes the village of Kuku (whence a track leads to Sheikh El Amin and afterwards rejoins this route), the two villages of Gereif, where there is some cultivation, and at about 12 miles the village of Um Dom. At about 19 miles, after passing some low mounds covered with frequent fragments of stone and brick, said to be the remains of Old Soba, the road bifurcates and the branch to the left is taken, a clearly marked track. For the first few miles the path passes through thinly scattered trees, which gradually get thicker, till at 23 miles they restrict the view in any direction to 200 or 300 yards. At 25½ miles a well is passed on the right of the road, and at 27 miles Um Dibban is reached. This is a scattered but well-built mud village on perfectly flat ground, from which all vegetation has been removed for a radius of 1,000 to 1,500 yards.

Old Soba

19 19

Um Dibban

8 27

It was formed by a holy man named Sheikh El Obeid, who established a school and caused a tank to be dug. His descendants still live there and keep up the school, but they now have hankerings after temporal power.

The Sheikh El Obeid family and followers were early and fanatical adherents of the Mahdi, and it was in attempting to surprise them that Mohammed Ali Pasha and his forces were cut to pieces in 1884.

There are two wells about 112 feet deep, one inside, and the other 200 yards W. of the S.W. corner of village.

The inhabitants belong to various tribes; many have land on the Blue Nile, and some cultivate land to the E.

Wad Badrub (Wad Agid) 4¼ 31¼ The road starts slightly N. of E., and generally traverses a thin forest of thorny trees, not thick enough really to impede troops, but necessitating a little dodging here and there. At 4¼ miles it passes Wad Badrub, a well, said to be 140 feet deep, belonging to Um Dibban. About 200 yards further on, and again after 4 more miles, dry tanks were passed.

The track maintains a general direction of a little N. of E., but constantly makes considerable changes for short distances.

Wad Hedeibab

7¾ 39 Well.

Um Sideira

7 46 Well.

4 50 A dry tank in the Elwan district is passed. There is said to be a well of the same name 2 miles to the S.E. This district originally belonged to the Shukria, but is now occupied by the Batahin.

The country soon becomes more open and a considerable extent, perhaps 600 or more feddans of dura, cultivated by the Batahin was passed.

El Ereigib

5 55 There are some wells (which were out of repair; January 1901) and several dry tanks, and one with water about 1 mile N.E. Plenty of fair sized trees.

A small number of Mesellemia Arabs, Sheikh Mahi, were there. They were originally under the Shukria, but during the Mahdia came under Sheikh El Obeid.

Another rather shorter route is from Khartoum N. to El Ereigib, viâ Babekr (11½ miles), good well, thence passing two lots of salt works to the village of El Melaha (13 miles), large tank, plenty of water (January, 1901), thence to a second village of El Melaha (2½ miles), salt well, thence to a deep but good well at Elwan (22½ miles), and total distance to El Ereigib (4 miles) is 53½ miles.

Wadi Sereria 6½ 6½ The country soon becomes more open, several tanks are passed. At 3 miles Wad Abu Saleh, good well 250 feet deep, marked by some small but well built mud houses in good preservation, said to belong to the Sheikh of El Soba. About ¾ mile to the left is a tank, said to hold the largest supply of water in the neighbourhood. The country now becomes more and more bare of trees, and more ground fit for cultivation is seen. At 6½ miles some Batahin crops are passed, and the Wadi Sereria flowing S. is crossed. A well belonging to the Mesellemia is said to be close at hand on left. At 8 miles a track from Shendi viâ Wad Hassuna to Rufaa is crossed. No water along it except tanks.

El Giseima[10]

4½ 66 A tank about 100 feet in diameter on rather high ground surrounded by a few trees, 2 feet of water in it, Hamla 4½ hours. From this on, no trees are seen till Rera is reached, except where belts of “kittr” bushes mark the lines of Wadis or a small clump of thorn trees shows the position of a tank; firewood should be provided for.

Wadi Abu Sueid 4 70 The absence of trees enables one to see far over the wide plains, mostly of arable soil and covered at this season with dry “Mahareib” and “Hamra” grass. At 4 miles, an unusually pronounced drainage line said to come from Abu Deleig is crossed. The upper part is called Wadi Abu Sueid and the lower Wadi Hasit, said to be much cultivation along it, but none was seen. Thence across a gravelly plateau from which 4 miles further on Geili hill can be seen. At 76th mile road descends short slope to Astaneit tank, dry, no wood, water, nor good grazing.

Astaneit 6 76

Khor Dengalia 4 80 From here on to Geili, the road generally makes for the hill. The main track probably avoids Astaneit tank, leaving it to the right. At 80th mile the Khor Dengalia; at 84th mile the Wadi Nail, and half mile further on the Wadi Ankia are crossed, all flowing south. 5½ miles further on the N. end of the Geili hill was reached. The best place to halt is ½ mile further on at the S.E. end, where a huge fallen boulder affords good shade for two or three persons. It has an ancient carving in Egyptian style on the side nearest the hill.

Wadi Nail 4 84

Wadi Ankia ½ 84½

Geili

6 90½

J. Geili is a granite outcrop about 250 feet high, rising out of a gentle elevation in the plain. On E. and S. are some low knolls enclosing a small open space, in which the wells now most used are situated. There are said to be about thirty wells round the hill, varying in depth from 50 to 100 feet, yielding an unfailing supply of water; some grass near but no firewood. The only path up the hill is from the N., and even there nailed boots must be taken off.

From the summit a good view is obtained. Near the top on some level ground is a place shown as the tomb of the “Bint El Mek,” the daughter of one of the Fung Kings, who married Sheikh El Din one of the early Shukria Sheikhs.

From Geili there are two roads to Um Rueishid, one of which viâ J. El Daein makes a considerable detour. It starts on a bearing of about 66° from true N. straight for J. El Daein, passing over good soil nearly all the way, several hundred feddans of which appear to have been cultivated (1901). The ground is much cracked and off the path, the going is bad.

J. El Daein 22 112½ Two small hills of which the southern is the higher. There is a tank, now dry, at its foot on W. side, Hamla took 8 hours, going well.

Um Ukheita 14½ 127 The track now turns slightly S. of E. and continues over good soil rather bare of grass to Um Ukheita, a tank now dry, on a slight stony rise. Hamla about 5 hours. From here on to Um Rueishid the ground is covered with angular stones, and the going very bad. Camels have to walk. At 2½ miles J. Rera is seen to the S.E., and the track makes fairly straight for it, leaving on the right the group of small hills known as El Nawasla. At 6¼ miles the track descends a gentle slope, and bends up to the N. to the well of Um Rueishid.

The more direct road, which would appear to be the best in every way, runs nearly due E. over a “Nal” grass covered plain devoid of bush, therefore also of shade and firewood, to Sofeiya El Wata (23 miles) a large tank (dry January, 1901), where there is excellent shade for a small party. From here to Um Rueishid (20 miles), track traverses similar country, though it is occasionally stony. J. Um Betikh is passed to the S. of the track.

Um Rueishid

8¼ 135¼ This well is said to be 30 or 35 feet deep. It is situated on bare stony ground. A dry tank lies ½ mile to the S. There are a few small thorn bushes S. of well, but there is very little shade and little grazing, and it is altogether rather an unpleasant halting place.

From Um Rueishid there is a track viâ El Sofeiya and Dimiat to Asubri. It seems the most direct line possible, vide description below.

The route followed after about 1 mile of stony plain strikes a well marked track on good cultivable soil, and makes straight for J. Rera.

At 1½ miles it crosses the Wadi Jerraba flowing S., and 6 miles W. Rahad, and at 11 miles the W. Kanan flowing N. All are flat depressions with cracked soil and marked by lines of “kittr” bushes. Parts of their courses are cultivated. At 18 miles, track enters ground strewn with quartz pebbles, and covered with grass which continues as far as Rera.

Rera

22¼ 157½ Hamla 9½ hours. The Rera hills consist of three rocky ridges almost in line, running E. and W. and some low subsidiary elevation; S. of the centre ridge is a well and a dry water hole. Immediately to the S. of the W. end of the eastern and highest ridge are more wells now in use. On the N. side of the short and low pass that leads to these wells from the N. is a deep dry tank. Before the Mahdia immense flocks and herds used to water here. In the eastern and highest ridge are several rock tanks containing water.

From Rera a road goes viâ Dimiat to Asubri. It is more direct and better marked than the one followed, but was not taken as the rock tanks at Dimiat were said to be dry (January, 1900). The eastern ridge is not difficult to ascend and commands a good view. The natives say J. Kassala can be seen from it on a fine day during the rains. Variation of prismatic compass about 3½° W.

There is no marked track for the first 5 miles towards El Sadda, and the going is bad over pebbles and through long grass.

After that a well marked track is reached, which continues the rest of the way.

Wadi Atiam 7 154½ At 7 miles, the Wadi Atiam is passed flowing N. It goes to El Sofeiya, and as far again beyond it dies away. Much cultivation along it. From 7 to 9½ miles the road is rather bad and stony till it has passed the Atash hills by a short and easy gap, and enters an open plain which extends to El Sadda.

Several tanks are passed on the right, known as El Farsh. Hamla 9½ hours.

El Sadda

25½ 180 There are several wells here about ½ mile W. of S. end of J. El Sadda, a low ridge running N. and S. The one well visited was said to be 70 to 80 feet deep. Plenty of grass, but no trees nor firewood. On the N. and W. of the hill and close to its foot are a number of circular stone mounds neatly built, which appear to be tumuli, and probably date from a time anterior to the present inhabitants. The two biggest are immediately under the highest point. From here to the Atbara there is no track and no water. Bushes mark the drainage lines, otherwise the plains are bare of all but grass. Much of the ground is cracked and consequently bad going. The route followed eventually struck the well marked track made by the Dervishes from Dimiat, and kept along it to Asubri. At 2½ miles from Asubri the main road along the left bank of the Atbara is crossed. Soon after, the track descends into the broken ground which fringes both banks of the Atbara to a width of 2 or more miles. The actual banks at Asubri are 15 to 20 feet high and 300 yards apart. Crocodiles are plentiful. The ford in January, 1901 was 120 yards long and 2½ feet deep.

Asubri (R. Atbara) 57 237 Hamla took 19 hours from El Sadda. A nice shady camp on right bank for a very small party. Mosquitos few, but particularly poisonous.

Asubri is the name of a strip of land extending for some miles along both banks of the Atbara. On the left bank, near the ford, is an old cemetery, and ½ mile S. is a building formerly occupied by Abdel Rahim Wad Abu Dugal, the Dervish Emir in command of their post here in 1897 and early in 1898.

On leaving camp, the track winds in and out of khors and up gentle slopes through bushes, till at 2 or 3 miles it emerges on to the plain, which is of good soil covered with scattered bush. The general direction is straight for J. Kassala.

At about 6 miles the track from Suweihil joins in on the right, and from this on, the road is well marked. Many ariel and gazelle, and a few ostriches seen.

Um Siteiba 21 258 At 21 miles, Um Siteiba, commonly called half way is passed. Here is a large natural pond for about 4 months in the rains, but now dry. Serut fly bad when there is water here.

About 6 miles from Kassala, the track turns N.E. and traverses more thickly wooded country, till it reaches the bed of the Gash, now dry, some 700 yards wide, immediately beyond which lies the old town of Kassala.

Kassala 17 275 The old name, Taka, may now be regarded as obsolete. The former town is a complete ruin, of which nothing remains except the circular bastions. The new town has been built close by the S.E. and consists largely of Tukls. The Fort, built by the Italians, is just E. of the N. end of the old town.

Telegraph lines from Suakin, Massawa, and Khartoum viâ Gedaref meet here.

UM RUEISHID viâ SOFEIYA to ASUBRI.

Khartoum, N. — —

Um Rueishid — 135¼ From Um Rueishid where the ground is very stony, the track which is well defined, starts at a bearing of 112° from true N., and very soon K. Abu Jerraba is crossed flowing N., it is said to eventually unite with the Wadi Khasa.

Wadi Khasa 7½ 142¾ There are signs of a good deal of cultivation along this wadi.

J. Um El Gurud 1½ 144¼ J. Um El Gurud, a low rocky hill about ¼ mile long is passed about 1¾ miles to S. and 3 miles further on Sheikh

Sh. Naim’s Tomb 1½ 145¾ Naim’s tomb, conspicuous on top of a gentle slope, is passed on N. side of the road. Open bushless grass country continued until nearing El Sofeiya, where scattered bush and granite rocks appear. There are some forty wells here, though water supply decreases considerably in the dry season, they vary from 50 to 100 feet in depth.

El Sofeiya 9½ 155¼

15½ 170¾ The people here, who are Shukria under Sh. Ahmed Mohamed Abu Sin, live in tents made of matting; there are no permanent buildings of any sort, and the encampments are small and scattered. The direct road to Kassala, which is difficult to trace for the first mile or so after leaving the wells, soon becomes well defined, having been much used during the Mahdia, and leads over open flat grassy land from J. Gurun, which it leaves about 2½ miles to the S. Khors Royan (7 miles) and Atshan (11½ miles) being crossed en route, flowing N.

Wadi Giref 6½ 177¼ J. Giref is passed about 3 miles N. of track and Wadi Giref is crossed about a mile further on.

From here to J. Dimiat is about 15 miles, Wadi Girgoja being crossed at about half way.

J. Dimiat

15 192¼ A granite hill about 100 feet high. There is a natural tank about half way up, inaccessible for camels, which after a good rainy season contains water till the end of January, but is not to be relied on. There is a certain amount of laot bush around the base of the Jebel, which serves as firewood, and some detached boulders give shade for a small party.

Ogba El Bagar 18 210¼ From here to the Atbara valley about 33 miles there is no bush, with the exception of two thin belts called Ogba El Bagar about 5 miles apart.

7½ 217¾ The road bifurcates, one to Gandaua, Sh. Omara Abu Sin’s village on the Atbara, the other is the Dervish track to Asubri. The route taken (January, 1901) was neither, but direction lay for 3 miles S.E., and then due E. through scattered bush to edge of plateau.

Edge of Plateau 8½ 226¼ From this point Jebels Kassala, Abu Gamel, &c., are plainly visible. Also are several small hills some 10 miles to the S. and S.W. named Bereirob and El Gatar, whilst J. Leinun is visible a similar distance to the N.

Asubri

2¼ 228½ The road now descends a khor by easy gradients to the bed of the Atbara at the well known Meshra of Asubri.

15. — ГОЗ-РЕГЕБ до ШЕНДИ через АБУ-ДЕЛЕЙГ.

Капитан У. А. Бульнуа, апрель 1900 г.

Общие замечания. Дорога. От Гоз-Регеба, разрушенного города из глинобитных домов, почти полностью заброшенного, до Шег-эль-Валии тропы нет, и местность голая до 30 миль от Шега. Отсюда до Гелейты есть плохо определенная тропа, а от Гелейты до Абу-Делейга ее нет вовсе. От последнего до Шенди тропа хорошо выражена на большей части пути, и, по-видимому, здесь значительное движение; были встречены группы, везущие дурру из Руфаа в Шенди, и одна группа из Метеммы с товарами для продажи на рынке Абу-Делейга.

Тропа исчезает за 10 миль до Шенди.

Движение в это время года хорошее на всем пути; там, где пересекаются участки сильной богатой почвы и вади, а их много, в сезон дождей это было бы временами невыполнимо.

От Абу-Делейга до Шенди движение достаточно хорошее, вероятно, круглый год, но многие глубокие хоры стали бы серьезными препятствиями в сезон дождей.

Атбара была глубиной 2,5 фута и шириной 60 ярдов.

Снабжение. Некоторое количество дурры выращивается около Шега и Гелейты. Там ее было легко получить в небольших количествах.

Много выращивается в Хаваде, очень плодородном районе, а также некоторое количество в Абу-Делейге в хорошие годы, но все зависит от количества осадков. От Абу-Делейга до Шенди очень мало.

Дрова. Дрова нельзя получить между Гоз-Регебом и 10 милями до Абу-Делейга; в других местах их много.

Вода. Нет воды от Гоз-Регеба до Шега, около 65 миль.

Резервуары очень многочисленны около и в Хаваде.

Воду можно получить только в Ладде, между Абу-Делейгом и Шенди; но есть многочисленные резервуары, хотя все они в это время сухие.

Вода хорошего качества, особенно в Абу-Делейге.

Жители. От Гоз-Регеба до Хавада — шукрия; вокруг Абу-Делейга — батахины; в Ладде — абабда и хассания.

Выпас. Очень хороший выпас от Шега до Шенди.

Земледелие. Большие участки и площади, способные давать хорошие урожаи дурры, если дожди благоприятны.

Дичь. В это время года между Атбарой и Нилом не на кого охотиться.

Place. Miles. Description.

Inter-mediate. Total.

Atbara — — Descending the bank by the hut on the E. bank the Atbara is crossed and the W. bank ascended ¼ mile S.

Elsewhere the banks are steep, but the bush is not very dense. Track leads to Goz Regeb. The ruined brick buildings of the old Egyptian town are still standing, and amongst them the decayed tukls of Osman Digna. A very few inhabitants, descendants of the ancient town of Goz are living there still. The site is on high ground, and light sandy soil, a few dom palms, and the remains of an old garden and cemetery are still visible.

Goz Regeb 1 1 Counting from huts on the E. bank, the distance to the town is 1 mile. The direction taken, about 260° from the true north, leaves the town of Goz Regeb on the N., and passes from sandy undulating ground to level rich soil with very little grass and trees, getting scarcer through El Uera district, leaving the two hills of El Darei on the north side; at about 9 miles the direction taken leads straight to Bewadda. Under the hills of El Darei are bushes and grass.

Bewadda 15½ 16½

Bearing from Bewadda to Sabaat 162°, Erembat 81°, Takallaareid 343°. Bewadda is a granite rock in the middle of a bare tract.

At 20 miles a ridge about ¼ mile long, quite low, stands 1 mile to the N.; hence the ground is perfectly bare till about 50 miles. Wadis coming from south begin to empty on the plain, then the going becomes bad in places, especially in the cracked soil near the Wadis. Grass gets more plentiful.

At 51 miles Wadi Royan is crossed, and shortly after Wadi El Doleb and Wadi Sangareh; dura is grown about these wadis.

J. Ikhbeit 36 52½ Bearing to J. Ikhbeit 209°.

The broad Wadi El Abil is crossed at 59 miles; there are bushes and firewood in it. Four miles further on the ground becomes stony after crossing Wadi Wad Masuga, and rises gentle slope of stony ridge.

Shag El Walia

13½ 66 Shag El Walia is reached after crossing a second ridge. It is generally called simply Shag, no connection with Sheikh. Four wells in use out of 14; 120 feet deep, water constant; 200 camels could be watered daily. A badly defined track leads over a valley with rich soil across Wadi Baseyayi, then gently up another stony ridge and plateau down to Geleita where are 7 wells in use altogether, about 120 feet deep, water constant. There are several wells unopened. A good many flocks and inhabitants.

Geleita

14½ 80½

Isna Bir

17½ 98 Leaving the main group of wells, a track is followed down bed of khor to the foot of the ridge in N.W. direction, fairly free from stones, past two wells at ¾ mile, and one well at 1¼ miles. The track disappears and rich soil and pasture land is crossed to Isna Bir, where there are 2 wells giving a scanty supply of water, and a few people (Batahin); a few patches of corn were noticed on the way.

Abu Deleig

25 123 Hence the direction taken is nearly W., crossing a very fertile tract of country; many water tanks, now dry, then over the rich land of Hawad, and rising a gentle slope touches the Khor Girgegi, which waters the Hawad, about 1 mile short of Abu Deleig.

Good shade all round. Large number of wells.

2 125 The best place for a small party is 2 miles higher up the Girgegi. A well defined track, starting N.W. across Wadi Shilha and leads over good pasture land with many mimosa trees and sandy soil to Ladda. A large tank hewn out of the rock in the middle of a grass plain. Plenty of water, 1/4/00, diameter about 100 feet, depth in middle 5 feet, said to last all the year. Many flocks; Ababda and Hassania tribes. Tomb of Atali close to the tank. The track leads past several stony ridges and sandy soil, across 3 or 4 khors, notably Fehed, and is lost about 7 miles from Shendi, which is reached descending a long very gradual slope from the high plateau at the foot of J. Girenat and Neheidat. Distance taken to Gubba Shendi.

Ladda

20 145

Shendi 41 186

16. — ЭЛЬ-ДАМЕР до ФАШЕРА (АТБАРА).

Майор Балкли Джонсон, Шотландские серые, октябрь 1901 г.

Общие замечания. Дорога. От Эль-Дамера до Гоз-Регеба дорога каменистая и песчаная, с открытой пустыней или открытым кустарником. Движение: хорошее для лошадей в открытом строю, но немного тяжелое; для артиллерии — тяжелое, с нагрузкой на лошадей на протяжении всего пути. Я бы предложил какую-нибудь форму съемных широких песчаных шин, чтобы предотвратить погружение колес, как предлагалось в «Журнале артиллерийского института», кажется, за сентябрь 1901 года.

От Гоз-Регеба до Софи дорога представляет собой одну тропу через высокую траву на высоком плато, в 2 или 3 милях от реки, к которой трудно подобраться из-за пересеченной местности, постепенно спускающейся к реке, которая изрезана бесчисленными хорами, водотоками и кустарником.

Движение по одной тропе хорошее для лошадей, но плохое для орудий, так как и лошади, и колеса должны проходить через высокую траву, а ноги лошадей постоянно соскальзывают внутрь, так как тропа узкая и обычно глубокая. Временами, как между Софи и Могаттой, путь полностью теряется и зарастает китром — достаточно плохо для одиночных лошадей, но еще хуже для парных или ведомых лошадей; орудийные лошади дважды приходили в крови от плеч и ниже. Я бы предложил внешние шоры для орудийных лошадей в кустарнике, чтобы защитить глаза от шипов.

Вода. На первой части дороги, от Эль-Дамера до Гоз-Регеба, к реке трудно подобраться из-за густого кустарника и высоких берегов, за исключением признанных мешр, часто расположенных далеко друг от друга. Вода очень хорошая; лагеря хорошие и тенистые.

На второй части, от Гоз-Регеба до Фашера, река часто находится в 3 милях, и к ней очень трудно подобраться. Мешр очень мало из-за пересеченной местности, густого кустарника и глубоких хоров, бегущих во всех направлениях; лагеря сносные и тенистые.

Травы. На Атбаре до Гоз-Регеба вдоль берегов много травы хальфа. После Эль-Фашера много зеленой абу-рокбы, абу-арида и негиля, причем лучшей является абу-арид, которую местные жители всегда предпочитают любой другой для лошадей и скота, как в зеленом, так и в сухом виде. Наал, по-видимому, не пригоден в пищу, но адаа, или ложная дурра, лучше, чем ничего.

Place. Miles. Description.

Inter-mediate. Total.

El Damer — —

El Basli 14 14 Road across stony desert. Small village, 150-200 inhabitants, about 4 miles S. of Abadar Meshra. Dom fringe, ½ mile broad; outside this, stony desert. Two roads—one through doms, the other outside—single track over stones.

From El Busli.

Outside road taken.

¾ 14¾ Meshra Umdebia.

Amerab 3¾ 18½ Amerab village, ½ mile from river; 50 grass tukls, two mud houses. Big house standing alone. Sheikh Omar.

2 20½

Minawi 1¼ 21¾ Meshra very good.

Goz El Halag 4 25¾ Opposite to Goz El Halag (meshra) a few tukls. Road still 2 miles from river. Country changes. Soil becomes loamy, with some sand and scattered bush. River bank lined with doms.

Girsi 5¼ 31 Village. Cultivation by sagias; big meshra 2 miles north. Road shortly goes through dura (rain crops), therefore patrol skirted outside this. Country as before; open bush, mostly tundub; no road.

Debbet Bush 3 34 Opposite to big village Debbet. Bush W. of outer road; about 2 miles from river. Water from 2 wells.

Burush 4 38 Opposite to; a few tukls, meshra.

Abaka 3 41 Ditto.

Helal 7 48 Ditto, meshra. Cultivation, and a few tukls fairly close; bush mixed with doms, about 1 mile broad from river.

Shigil 2 50 Meshra. Cultivation on and near river. Meshra in a small pool, nearly dry (Oct. 16th). Island, ½ mile long; plenty of neghil grass. Village of Shigil, about 20 tukls; ½ mile from river in bush.

1 51

Garada 1 52 Meshra. Road enters dura 1½ miles from river; narrow path through thickets.

Marzuga 2 54 Meshra.

5 59 Bush ends. Road enters open sandy desert which stretches down to river, on banks of which fringe of doms, ½-1 mile wide.

El Rimta 3½ 62½ Arab encampment. (No meshra.) Road close to river. Road runs along river bank through doms and cultivation for ½ mile, then open sandy desert with sunt and tundub right down to bank; sand hills.

El Awadi

3½ 66 Meshra (very good). Good shade for camp. Heavy going for guns. No road.

10 76 Good meshra. No signs of cultivation.

Adarama

4 80 Meshra opposite Adarama.

3 83 Ferry for Adarama. A fringe of bush, about 1 mile broad, along river; outside this, open flat desert with a few tundub bushes. Road at times 2 miles from river, across bends, and approaches it at mile 97.

14 97 Meshra, very good (rocky bed); shady camp. Fringe of bush impenetrable (except at meshras) along bank, about 10 yards broad. This continues for a long distance. Road close to river.

Amiam

10 107 Meshra, by small khor; sandy bank, ¼ mile broad; no inhabitants; going, sandy and bad.

Taroma

6 113 Meshra. Bisharin tukl village; about 30 people; flocks; cultivation of dukhn on sandy banks. Meshra, good; dukhn on sandy banks. No signs of inhabitants.

4 117

11 128 No meshra, but able to get down to river by group of doms; sandy banks, not much grass (halfa). Road goes away from river to cut off bend.

5½ 133½ Road divides: right hand to Goz Regeb direct, left keeping near river. Followed left; going becomes worse, with small khors when near river.

Auli 2½ 136 Arab encampment. Meshra.

6 142 Very good meshra; open space on bank. Fine view of river part of Auli. No grass.

2 144 Meshra. Arab encampment; dukhn, plenty of halfa grass. End of Bisharin tribe.

3 147 Arab encampment. Arteiga branch of Hadendioa. Great quantities of sheep, cattle and camels.

G. Tukwe on west, J. Ofreik on east, just visible from here.

Succession of small meshras and encampments.

4 151 Meshra.

2 153 Meshra.

1 154 Cemetery; stony ground.

3 157 Path debouches into open alluvial plain (short grass and tundub bushes) cutting off bend.

5 162 Approach river, near which country is broken and stony. Meshra bad; no grass except a little abu rokba (slightly bitter taste when green, and of which some horses will not eat at first until accustomed). Flocks and cattle. Road from 148th mile close to river, over very rough, broken, stony ground, and at times thick bush. Several small meshras. Goz Regeb’s two hills visible for first time.

Saraf 6 168 Arab encampment; meshra.

Goz Regeb

12 180 Meshra—1 mile short of it—under palms. Camp (bad), 2 miles further on, at ferry. Camel post opposite; grass, halfa.

This road makes Goz Regeb 100 miles from Adarama.

From Goz Regeb the road proceeds at about 3 miles from river on a flat table land, as the ground between it and the river is rocky and broken by innumerable small water courses and khors called by natives “karrab.” The going is over alluvial soil, rather heavy. A single track with naal grass on either side.

Distances are given exclusive of detours down to meshras.

Gebuib

18 198 Meshra, very good. Good camping ground; halfa grass. No inhabitants.

10 208 To meshra, about 3 miles.

6 214 Ditto.

Umraho

4 218 Ditto. Very good meshra; deep khors on either side. Bend in river to east; ford (27th Oct. 1901). Country near meshra very broken and rough. On turning down this meshra the tops of two small hills are visible on right front. From here road about 3 miles from river; going gets harder when nearing Asubri.

8 226 In line between the two hills and Kassala hill.

10 236 To meshra.

Omara 1 237 Small village, about ½ mile E. of road.

3 240 To meshra, good. E. 3 miles to river. Fair camp; abu rokba, but no halfa grass.

3 243 To Asubri. The road here divides at right angles: left to Asubri, right direct to El Fasher, described as about 30 miles and track far from river. Therefore took river road—very bad.

Asubri

3 246 Asubri. From here road goes about 1 mile from river and becomes very good and hard. Country open with trees and short grass. After 10 miles becomes “Karrab” (ground broken by small water courses) again.

12 258 A meshra. Hundreds of camels, thousands of sheep and goats belonging to Lahawin Arabs. Good meshra. Bad camp; no grass.

13 271 El Fasher District. Country changes to park-like land—short grass dotted with trees.

El Fasher 2 273 El Fasher village and fort. Water from ford.

Ford 4 277 Ford; good meshra and camp. Last ½ mile “karrab”; Abu Rokba grass.

17. — КАРТУМ-НОРТ до АБУ-ДЕЛЕЙГА.

Составлено в разведывательном отделе в Хартуме.

Place. Miles. Description.

Inter-mediate. Total.

Khartoum, North — — Railway terminus, &c. The road leads nearly due east, viâ tomb and well of Haj Yusef (Batahin), about 80 feet deep, water good but not plentiful, to Bir Babekr, about 110 feet deep, water good and plentiful. Scattered salam and tundab bush. Inhabitants Batahin.

Bir Haj Yusef 4½ 4½

Bir Babekr 4½ 9

After leaving Babekr the road traverses bare level ground covered with scattered samr and selem trees. Hafir Medeisis, where Hassania Arabs live and extract salt during the rainy season, is passed, and later Hafir El Wadi, near which is a low stony hill named El Gaber. Near Kalamon are hafirs named Nuba and Um Denun, where also salt is extracted by the Hassania.

Bir Kalamon 8 17 Well 180 feet deep, water rather salt, but very plentiful. From here the direct road passes Hafir El Kheila, the country is flat and covered with scattered samr trees and homra and meharib grass. The road leads to a stony hill named J. Dura, after which the following tanks are passed: Jan Kilwa, Um Gedodeima, and Gala Um Johanis, over which the road passes; beyond this is Wadi Safra, where Hassania Arabs cultivate.

J. Dura 12 29

Wad Hassuna 30 59 A village of mud houses and well of this name; also the tomb of Sheikh Hassan Wad Hassuna, near which is a large hafir called Ghobasha. Natives here Hassania, under Sheikh Hassan Meki. Country continues flat, and covered here and there with kitr and samr trees, also homra and meharib grass; road is stony and several khors cross it.

Hafir Kabarus 4½ 63½ After Hafir Kabarus, three others by name El Biyut are past.

Hafir Amria 7 70½ A very large tank, J. El Sada, is passed to the south.

Bir Agab 8½ 79 Two wells, about 90 feet deep, water good and plentiful. Mogharba, Hassania, Batahin and Ababda Arabs live about here. Several hafirs here, chief of which are Alatib and Balako. The latter lies 1½ miles south of the road, and is said to have been dug by the “Kufr” or heathen.

Khor Jegjegi — — After leaving Agab the road soon runs alongside Khor Jegjegi, which it continues to follow to Abu Deleig. Kittr, sayal, heglig, and samr trees border the khor, which some 8 to 10 miles further east joins Wadi Hawad. There are about 50 wells in the Abu Deleig district, 70 to 100 feet deep, but in the rainy season water can be obtained from Khor Jegjegi near the surface. At Abu Deleig all the natives live in dom-mat tents, and here is the residence of Sheikh Mohammed Talha, head Sheikh of the Batahin, who are the principal inhabitants. There is a police officer and police post here.

Abu Deleig 10 89

18. — РУФАА до ГЕЙЛИ.

Полковник достопочтенный М. Г. Тэлбот, январь 1903 г.

Есть по крайней мере три дороги.

Западная идет через Абу, или Эль-Гассас, район, по-видимому, включенный в другой под названием Ротамат (я не уверен в этом). Последняя вода в Абу-Гассасе. Впоследствии она проходит мимо некоторых посевов, но воды нет, кроме как осенью.

Восточная идет через Тундуб и Вад-Аррак, где есть последняя вода, и соединяется со средней дорогой примерно в 10 милях от Гейли.

Средней дорогой следовали, и она описана ниже.

Настоящей дороги для начала нет, просто тропы от деревни к деревне. Первые 9 миль, до деревни Кемейлаб, все время через посевы. Несколько деревень по обе стороны дороги. Затем через редкий кустарник лаот, но вокруг много посевов.

Place. Hours. Miles. Description.

Inter-mediate. Total. Inter-mediate. Total.

Rufaa — — — — Track is good all the way; no steep gradients, difficult khors, nor thick bush. Probably bad after rain.

Tunbul El Jaalin

4 4 12 12 Good sized village of Jaalin, with well. There are two other villages close by called Tunbul El Agada and Tunbul El Eishab. Cultivation all the way; many villages seen.

Abu Zeid, Wad Um Balli

3 7 9 21 A poor village. Well 250 yards S.E.; village of Musaiab close by to N. Track continues mostly through thin low laot bush, but some cultivation is passed. Some villages lie on right, but are not conspicuous. Passes village of Um Hageir.

Um Shinshin, or Um Shinashin

2¾ 9¾ 8 29 Thin straggling village; well, on road; last water on road. On through low laot and grass, with very little cultivation, passing the small village of El Gura; no well; last village on road.

Um Ganatir — — 5 34 Tank, a boundary point of Rufaa District, used to be a man’s depth, but now nearly filled up.

Mufad Wad Dereid — — 7 41 Tank.

4½ 14¼ 1 42 Road crosses a belt of laot giving good firewood; no more for two hours, though there are belts of kittr a mile or two on each side. Geili just visible 29½° (true). Jebel Lebaitor just visible in early morning to S. On over grassy plain, apparently rising. Direction of road some degrees E. of Geili.

Wadi Mofad 2¼ 16½ 6½ 48½ Marked by a belt of thin kittr some 250 yards wide. Must be boggy after rain. Two tanks on each side of wadi. The place is called something like Rufa Wa Fagusa, Rufa applying to one pair of tanks and Fagusa to the other, but I am not sure of the names, nor which applies to which.

The Wadi Mofad, I was assured, rises near Abu Deleig, and flows S. The wadis of Bahogi and Ankia passed on the Um Dibban—Geili road form part of it.

E. of the wadi the Tundub road joins in, and the united road makes straight for Jebel Geili.

2¼ 18¾ 6½ 55 Road crosses a branch of Wadi Mofad coming from the E. of Jebel Geili. Some kittr and other trees. Track begins to get stony, particularly as Jebel Geili is neared.

J. Geili

2¼ 21 6½ 61½ Wells at S. end of Jebel Geili close to the carved rock.

19. — ГЕДАРЕФ до КАССАЛЫ.

Подполковник Митфорд (1899 г.) и капитан Г. Х. Морант (1900 г.).

Прямая и более часто используемая дорога на Могатту начинается от Гедарефа в почти северном направлении, оставляет Джебель-Буадру примерно в 1,25 мили справа, а место битвы при Гедарефе — в 0,25 мили слева. Пройдя через множество посевов и высокую траву, достигается грязная деревня Вад-Габу на вершине небольшого холма. Водоснабжение этой деревни осуществляется из колодца примерно в 2,5 или 3 милях к западу или юго-западу, и животных приходится отправлять туда, так как в самой деревне воды очень мало. Здесь есть дом для отдыха.

Джебель-Кассамон виден почти строго на север. Примерно через 2,25 мили соединяются телеграфная линия и альтернативный маршрут из Гедарефа через Сераф-эль-Буадра и Бир-Роважду, который обычно сухой.

Отсюда до реки Атбара, в Могатте, воды нет, и местность очень неинтересная. В сезон дождей кустарник и редкие заросли почти скрыты высокой травой; в сухой сезон она выжигается, и местность становится голой черной хлопковой почвой, лишенной какого-либо выпаса для животных. Примерно в 12 милях от реки начинается густой кустарник, в основном китр, и продолжается до места остановки в Могатте. Эта дорога почти на 20 миль короче, чем через Софи.

Place. Miles. Description.

Inter-mediate. Total.

Gedaref — — The track to Sofi leaves Gedaref in a N.E. direction, passing down a valley between gardens, cultivation and high grass; several hamlets half a mile distant on either side of road. A gentle ascent on N. side of valley to N.E. corner of a low flat hill called J. Buadra.

Khor Seraf El Buadra

3 3 This khor crosses the path near corner of J. Buadra. One well, upper portion stone faced; 24 feet deep, 5 feet diameter, 4 feet of water. Two similar wells near track, one ½ a mile, the other 1 mile further on. From this point track is a single camel path, winding among high grass or through bush; in places very stony. Ground on either flank cracked cotton soil.

2 5 Top of pass is reached; the small hamlets of Um Shedra, Hissainad, and Turfur are seen in succession on the left hand of the track.

2½ 7½ A rise in the ground known as Gumerab is reached. On far side of it track descends sharply for 40 feet, over rocks and stones on to a plain. General direction E. by N. Some dukhn or dura patches; rest of the ground covered with high aada and shush grass. 5 feet high.

4¼ 11¾ A copse of talh trees is passed through. For the next 5 miles are scattered trees along the path, with copses of hashab trees a few hundred yards to a mile on either side; shush, aada, naal and Umdenaib grasses.

4¾ 16½ A shallow excavation to catch rain-water is seen on left, 100 yards off. General direction E.N.E. At the 24th and 27th miles, two more small rain-water reservoirs are passed.

Khor Bitnasr 15½ 32 This khor is here crossed; it trends northwards and runs into the Khor Tomat. Ground now ascends slightly and is more broken, and track crosses several small khors. At the 34th mile the edge of the plateau is reached, and a sharp descent of 90 feet ensues.

Sofi (Rest house) 3 35 A straggling village of a hundred men (Jaalin) on spurs running down to the Atbara 400 yards away. At date the river is easily fordable, the water not being knee deep and 20 yards broad near the village. From this point the track as far as El Fasher follows the course of the river on the left bank, and distant from it 1 to 5 miles. The bush and jungle prevent approach from the track, except at the watering places in use. From Sofi the track winds up to the plateau in a N.W. direction along and in khors. On reaching this plateau, after a mile, the track bears generally due N. Quarter of a mile of dura cultivation is passed through, then the path runs along the flat top of a watershed draining into the Atbara on the right, and into the Khor Tomat on the left.

One and a half miles E. of the Atbara the Setit runs parallel with the river and the khor until its junction with the former. Going is now very bad, kittr, laot, talh and sant close to the path; cracked cotton soil. At the 43rd mile the track descends with twists and turns towards the river, and just before reaching Khor Tomat some salt workings are passed through.

Khor Tomat (Rest house) 9½ 44½ The khor near its junction with the river is 30 yards wide and 4 feet deep. It takes its name from a mound near the khor with two knolls (Tomat = twins). Formerly there were several hamlets in the neighbourhood, but no traces exist.[11] The nearest hillet to the river was Wad Abu Hamed, just N. of the khor. Easy access to water at date. Track winds over undulating ground intersected by khors, below the plateau 1 to 2 miles distant to the westward. Trees not quite so thick or close.

Khor Um Garra

4 48½ The Atbara is again reached here, about 1 mile N. of its junction with the Setit, which brings down at this time of the year more water than the Atbara, and appears to be a broader and finer stream.

Good watering place.

The path leaves the river in a N.W. direction over broken and undulating ground for 1 mile. The plateau is reached and again thick bush and trees are passed through. At 55 miles J. Akelai is visible through a break in the trees, nearly due E.

Khor Fatut 11½ 60 Track winds down to this khor, and then for 1½ miles passes over very broken ground. Track then improves; the country is not so closely wooded, and several open spaces are traversed.

Mogatta (Rest house) 10 70 No village; grazing and watering place of the nomad Arabs. The river is 12 miles from the track. Several large islands in the Atbara here, the water in the dry season passing down by the left bank. Lions are plentiful here.

Here the direct road from Gedaref comes in. From this point the road improves considerably. Troops can move on a broader front, and the soil, though still cotton, is not so cracked; the earth has a slightly red tinge. Occasionally belts of bush are traversed. At the 92nd mile the track descends, and the ground becomes very broken. The remains of an old Dervish post on a spur are seen 400 yards to right.

M. Khashm El Girba

23½ 93½ Track here meets the river; a tributary, or branch of the Atbara, comes in here on the opposite bank, with water still in it. Broken country is again traversed, and many knolls and khors are passed until the plateau is again reached. Trees are larger, and ground covered with gau grass, excellent for grazing cattle and sheep.

Dervish earth work 3 96½ A square Dervish earthwork, each side about 80 yards long, is passed on right. This was the site of El Fasher village when it existed.

El Fasher ford (Rest house) 4 100½ At date, river was 50 yards broad, 18 inches deep at the most at the ford.

Bottom of bed consists of shingle. Quarter of a mile up stream on the right bank is the site of the post held by a detachment from the Kassala garrison in 1898.

On leaving the ford, track leads up the ascent to the plateau for 2 miles, and passes over very broken country intersected by khors. Then the path is excellent; large open spaces are divided by belts of trees. J. Kassala bears E.N.E.

El Mellawiya 22 122½ An open (now) grassy space, where rain-water collects and stands from July to October. Serut flies bad at that season, also snakes. Attempts to make a well here have so far been abortive.

Old well 5 127½ An old government well is passed on right, now filled in. Country now becomes closer, and trees with bright green leaves become more numerous; track narrows considerably[12] as the Khor El Gash is reached, though movement is possible between the trees on either flank. At the 135th mile, the minaret of the Khatmia is visible to the right, and soon the factory chimney of Kassala is visible to the front.

Khor El Gash 12½ 140 The left bank of this khor is reached; 600 to 700 yards broad.

Kassala ½ 140½ Old town and Egyptian fort, now in ruins.

20. — ГЕДАРЕФ до ГАЛЛАБАТА.

Полковник Коллинсон и капитан Г. Х. Морант, 1898 г.

(Исправлено по состоянию на 1900 г.)

Place. Miles. Description.

Inter-mediate. Total.

Gedaref — — From Gedaref the road usually taken leads in a S.E. direction, and passes through much cultivation to wells situated in a khor midway between the villages of Dalasa and Gabeisha. From here the road continues to pass through rain cultivation, which extends on both sides of the roads more or less continuously almost as far as the eye can reach until 6 or 7 miles from Shasheina, after which only occasional patches are seen.