Omdurman—Tura el Khadra. 43 alluvial soil, which varies in width from 1 to 4 miles, and is evidently overflowed by the river in the season cf high water. To the west of that there is a narrow slope of gravel, bounded by rather low hills, generally situated at from 2 to 6 miles from the river.

The above-mentioned strip of alluvial soil widens as one goes south. It seems to be very fertile, but it is not well cultivated.

At the time of Major Prout's journey it was not the harvesting season, but from time to time traces of the cotton plant, and yet more frequently, those of dhura, were noticed. The cotton had a coarse and short fibre Here then is a tract of 300 square miles of fertile land, which could be watered by small canals, and which, for the want of organised labour and system, produces hardly enough to feed a sparse and savage population.

Large herds of handsome cattle, as well as flocks of goats, graze on the western hills. A few sheep also are seen, and the people own many donkeys.

Everywhere throughout this country are seen gumproducing acacias in isolated groups, or in small low forests ; and from time to time magnificent groves of acacias.

Tbe villages are numerous, especially along the southern half of the route. They are invariably composed of huts built of dhura stalks and grass, in the well-known conical tukl form, or in small and very low parallelograms. At Tura el Khadra (about 96 miles from Omdurman) the route definitely leaves the Nile, turning to the westsouth-west across the plains.

At the distance of about 4J miles from the Nile there is a permanent lake of about 2,000 yards in length, and 1,000 yards in width, and apparently quite shallow. In all parts of the lake are to be seen trees and small islands covered with vegetation. Water full of organic matter, nasty, and probably unwholesome.

This lake is formed by infiltration of water from the Nile; but it is evident that during the annual overflow of the river the lake receives water directly from it. Here are found many small villages, and the usual cultivation of dhura, as well as a little cotton.

To the west of this lake the face of the country thence to El Obeid is uniform.