82 Dar Nuba.

Dar Nuba.

Description. Dar Nuba may be best considered from Jebel Dilling, where four granite peaks rise to 400 or 500 feet above the plains, on which other similar peaks crop up here and there. At a distance of from 8 to 12 miles, the view is shut in to the north-west, west, south, and south-east, by high rugged mountains. To the north, broad plains slope down to El Birket, and the watercourse draining the northern and eastern faces of the mountains runs in the same direction. These plains are uninhabited, and densely wooded. The trees have no value as timber, and consist principally of acacia.

The people live in caves and on the terraces of the mountains in comparative security from the predatory horsemen of the plains.

Whilst Kordofan is merely an extensive plain with little change of scenery, Dar Nuba presents an entirely different aspect. Here chains of picturesque hills, running in various directions, rise out of the plain, interspersed with numerous watercourses. Jebel Delen, on which the late Catholic Mission station was situated, is one of the smallest of the hills. The other principal groups are Naima, Kurun, Dobab, Dair, Kedaro, Tagalla, Gedir, and Tira, in which gold is found, besides a number of smaller bills. It is estimated that in all there are upwards of 100 inhabited mountains. The intervening plains and valleys are rich in vegetation of every description; trees of colossal dimensions are found, more especially in the khors (the beds of perennial streams), and the thick luxuriant growth is so dense that the rays of the sun cannot penetrate. The soil is exceptionally fertile and rain abundant, consequently for six months in the year the density of the undergrowth makes it almost impossible to traverse these rich valleys ; but when the rains are over and the grass becomes dry, it is generally fired, and thus the plains and valleys become passable again. A quantity of the rain from these hills flows into Lake Birket, some passes also into the Khor Abu Habl, which becomes lost in the sand