48 Kordofan.

Water Supply.

North of parallel 14° 30' Kordofan is hopelessly arid ; that portion between 14° 30' and 12° 45' is a rolling steppe country, between 1,400 and 1,900 feet above the level of the sea. There is no particular direction of drainage, and although the soil is light, marks of running water are not to be seen. Under the thick stratum of detritus is found, at from 100 to 150 feet below the surface, a stratum of mica schist. At various places on the surface of the ground, isolated peaks of granite crop out T showing the direction of the ancient ranges now abraded down.

The region west of the line connecting Abu Haraz and Jebel Katul, and that north of 14° 30', are wastes with wells at rare intervals, and are only visited by the nomad tribes, wandering shepherds, and camel breeders during the rainy season.

In the area chiefly inhabited by the villagers, not including the basins of Abu Haraz, Kagmar, Bara, or Melbeis, Major Prout's expedition estimated the number of wells of drinkable water, contained in upwards of 16,000 square miles, at 900. Except certain groups of shallow water holes found in the khors and at the base of the mountains, these wells are narrow shafts, from 80 to 160 feet in depth, going down into the mica schist. Many of them are brackish, at least a quarter of them dry lor half the year, and the majority yield but little water, except during the last weeks of the kherif.

The water supply of Kordofan is derived from :— 1st. The wells. 2nd. The rainfall during the hherif. 3rd. The three small lakes, El Birket, El B/ahad, and Shirkeleh in the south.

Apart from these three sources, there is no water in all Kordofan. Every other lake and pool except the three mentioned is dry a few weeks after the rains cease ; and there is no running stream or spring to be found even during the rains.

The watercourses (khors) contain water for a few hours, while rain is falling. In all probability no water finds its way from Kordofan to the Nile.