RECENT EXPLORATION OF SOUDAN. 297 CHAPTER XXIII.

THE COUNTRIES OF SOUDAN.

Recent Explorations of Soudan— Limit of the Tropical Rains — The Conquest of Ethiopia—Countries Tributary to Egypt — Tho District of Takka — Expedition of Moussa Bey — The Athara River — The Abyssinian Frontier — Christian Ruins of Abou-Ha rass — The Kingdom of Sennaar — Kordofan — Dar-FCir — The Princess of Dar-Fiir in Khartoum— Her Visit to Dr. Reitz— The Unknown Countries of Central Africa.

Until within a recent period, but little has been known of the geography and topography of the eastern portion of Central Africa. Few English travellers have made these regions the subject of their investigation, their attention having been principally directed towards the countries on the western coast.

The Niger, in fact, has been for them a more interesting problem than the Nile. The German travellers Riippell and Russegger, however, by their explorations within the last twentyfive years, have made important contributions to our knowledge of Eastern Soudan, while D'Arnaud, Werne, and more than all, Dr. Knoblecher, have carried our vision far into the heart of the mysterious regions beyond. Still, the results of these explorations are far from being generally known, or even rep resented upon our maps. Geographical charts are still issued, in which the conjectured Mountains of the Moon continue to 13*