88 Senndr.

History, The popular traditions of Sennar represent that country as the original seat of the Macrobii, whom Herodotus mentions as the most remote of the Ethiopians, and a people whose gold provoked the cupidity of Cambyses, The same historian also speaks of the Automeli (emigrants) or Egyptian soldiers, who, deserting Psammeticus, marched south and settled in Ethiopia above Meroe. These were the Sebridae or Sembritse of later writers, and prove that the Island of Sennar was occupied by Egyptians.

Tradition also says that, after the time of Cambyses, 12 Queens and 10 Kings reigned in Sennar. Then the tribe of the Fungi came from Western Sudan, forded the White Nile, and established themselves in a part of the country.

In Sennar, at the beginning of the present century, several rival factions disputed for sovereign authority. Two usurpers, Adlan and Regeb, had made themselves masters of the State to the prejudice of Bady, the rightful heir, when Ismail Pasha entered the country in 1820 at the head of a Turkish army. Adlan was assassinated by .Hegeb, who had to fly the country, and Bady surrendered his rights to Ismail.

This ancient Egyptian settlement of Sennar seems to have risen superior to Meroe, and to its influence may be ascribed the imitations of Egyptian art found, scattered over the plains in the latter district.

As Christianity spread up the Nile, it was soon accepted by the descendants of the Egyptians, and in the 10th century the most flourishing State of "Ethiopia" was the Christian Kingdom of Aiwa on the Blue River, with Soba for its capital. The ruins of Soba may now be seen about 15 miles above Khartum.

Topography. The territory of Sennar is, in general terms, a great level plain, from which masses of rocks protrude at wide intervals, and to no great elevation. West of the town of Sennar, however, about 10 or 12 hours' distant, are the mountains Moia, Mandera, and Segadi, apparently extending as a chain from south to north, but in reality disconnected. Granite is the prevailing rock, associated with