This is the first region of the Sudan. It begins from the west, from the Western Sea, called the Sea of Darkness, which is a sea whose beyond is unknown. In it are two islands called the Fortunate Ones. From these islands, according to what is mentioned, are the islands of Azmīyūs, al-Dhalūl, and al-ʿUznā. In each of these two islands, it is said, there is a statue built of stone, each statue being one hundred cubits long. Above each statue is a bronze figure with a hand spread out. Behind these statues, according to what is mentioned, are six. One of them is the statue of Qāsim, which is in Gharnāṭah of al-Andalus, and no one knows anything of the ages beyond it. In this part are the cities of Awlīl, Sīlī, Takrūr, Dhū Wīrīsī, and Mūrah. These are from the land of the Sudan. As for the island of Awlīl, it is located in the sea, opposite the coast, and it has the famous salt mine. There is no other salt mine known in the lands of the Sudan. From it, the salt is transported to all the lands of the Sudan. This is because ships come to this island, load the salt, and then travel to the Nile. From there, they trade in the Nile to Sīlī, Takrūr, Wīrīsī, Ghāyah, and the rest of the lands of the Sudan, and Kūghah, and all the lands of the Sudan. Most of them have no dwelling or settlement on the Nile itself or on a river connected to the Nile. The surrounding lands are empty deserts with no habitation. These deserts have vast areas without water, and...