50 * i Kordofan.

to La°ke El Rahad, but such reservoirs are only useful daring the rainy season.

There are two large reservoirs at El Obeid, each of • which is sunk about 6 feet 6 inches, and enclosed by a bank about 6 feet in height, and covers about 600 to 1,000 square yards of surface. There are several smaller ones ; those 5 or 6 miles down the valley were, during the kherif of 1875, filled nearly to the natural level of the ground. The smaller reservoirs dry up within a week after the rains cease, and the larger ones before the end of January.

Supposing the system of economising the water perfect, the amount of rainfall is insufficient to irrigate for agriculture one-fifth of the area of Kordofan. Dokhn requires little water, but much of the crop dies annually from want of it. In the south of Kordofan, where more rain falls on the mountains, the case is different. The rainy season is said to last six months in Takalla, and, the soil being more tenacious, ib enables water from wider areas to drain into the general system. For example, khor A.bu Habl rises in Dar Nuba, and flows 190 miles before it sinks ; and during the rainy season running water is found for days together. It is even said to have at times found its way to the Nile.

Lakes. In its course this khor forms three small lakes, El Birket, Birket El Rahad, and Shirkeleh, which cover areas of about 2, 4, and 6 square miles respectively.

El Birket dries up as the season advances, but water can always be found by digging a few feet. It is surrounded by trees and villages.

El Rahad becomes entirely dry in some seasons, while in others a little water remains until the beginning of the next rains.

Shirkeleh generally becomes dry before the Jcherif ; in all these basins water is found at the depth of from 6 to 10 feet. Along the whole course of the khor, up to 32° long., water is found by digging 6, 10, or 13 feet in the bed.

Between the khor and the mountains on the south, water would probably be found at similar depths; but the country, though much richer than Northern Kordofan, is uninhabited because unsafe.