1837.] A but-Monak z1-Monkarah. 171 for agricultural purposes. From Monakil to Monkarah the lan(l is of excellent quality, vith the exception of a small strip about 7 miles distance from the latter place. After having ma(le several excursions into this (lesert, and crossed from Wad Medinah to Monkarah, I have colne to the conclusion, with respect to the country from Jebel Mowll, near Sennar, to Al-leis, westward, and to Khartiim northward, that the greatest portion, if not the whole, of this trianole, is formed by the alluvial deposit of the Nile. The soil of this desert if desert it may be calle(l is precisely similar to that near the banks of the river; its surface is nearly a dead level; there are no hills or mountains; and the Nile, even now, rises during its increase to within 2 or 3 feet of the top of its banks, on the Blue and White Rivers; and in many parts of the latter, where no banks exist, it spreads itself over a large tract of country. If a canal were cut from Wtid Medinah to Monkarah, with l:ranches N. and S.., almost all the land might be used for the pro(luction of cotton, indigo, tol)acco, sugar, grain, &c. Much might be accomplished by means of tanks for collecting the rain-water during the kharif, and ly sinking wells. But still this would not suffice to irrigate the whole of this rich and valualJle lan(l. Between Wad Medinah an(l Monkarah the country is beautifully studded with prickly acacias. Monkarah is one of the Pasha's boat-building stations. There is abundance of wood in the neighloourhood; but little of it is used, as larger and better timber is found near Al-leis, or in the country of the Shilluks. About thirty boats are built here annllally. I observed eighteen or twenty pairs of sawyers, and five or six boats on the stocks. The sawyers are negro slaves an(l convicts. The whole population may be 100 persons. In travelling in this cotlntry it is alJsolutely necessary to prevent the skin being exposed to the scorching rays of the sun, or it is immediately attacked with swelling and inflawmmation. Between Abut and Monkarah I was so imprudent as to lwide with my legs bare from the knees downward, and when I arrived at the latter village they were so swollen, painful, and inflamed, that I was confine(l to my bed several da-s before I was able to proceed to Kordofan. On the morning of the 15th I crossed over from Monkarah to Eajebi, a small settlement of Hasanlyeh Arabs, on the W. bank of the Nile, and N.W. of the former place. Here were also the tents of Suleiman Kaschif, who was collecting the contributions from tlie villages in the neighbourhood. During my stay at Wajebi a party of Shilluks arrived, accompanie(l by the son of their sultan. This prince was dressed in a blue cotton shirt, similar to those worn by the fellahs (labourers) in Egypt. They were on their way to I?hartfim, for the purpose of en(leavouring to make terms of peace wvith Khurshid Pasha, and addiIlg their dsminionsto