KOROSKO The most prominent feature of Korosko is the steep rocky hill which stands at the back of the plain whereon the town is built, and is famous among the Muhammadans as the resting-place of the body of a saint called Awas al-Guarani, who is said to have lived min zaniCin, i.e., a long time ago. Nobody knew anything about him, but every one agreed that he was a very holy man and an ascetic, and many people visit his tomb in the course of the year. Some go there to pray, and for the purpose of acquiring religious merit, and formerly boatmen and camel-men THE NEW MOSQUE AT KOROSKO.

from the caravans that passed through the town were in the habit of filling little bags with dust from his tomb, which they tied on their camels and boats, and relied upon for protection against the afarit, i.e., "spirits," or jinn, and the evil eye. In 1885 the British established a " look-out " station on the top of the hill, and cut a pathway to it, and the older inhabitants of Korosko at that time were convinced that by so doing they were honouring the local saint and putting themselves under his protection ! For many centuries Korosko was a place of some note in Nubia, for it was the terminus of the route by which caravans arrived from 75