THE EGYPTIAN SUDAN town which existed in the early centuries of the Coptic period, and the painted vases, i which Mr. Somers Clarke obtained here when making researches in Nubia, indicate that it must have been of some importance, perhaps even at the time of the conquest of Egypt by the Arabs in 641 (?).

A little to the south of Argin is the Island of Dabros, and when abreast of this we obtained an excellent view of Tawfikiya, and its pretty little mosque, which is a prominent object on the east bank. Tawfikiya is quite modern, and lies about two miles to A "STERN-WHKEI.ER" towing railway materials near WAl)i HAI.KA.

the north of the old Sirdariya, or General's quarters, at Wadi Haifa. It is built upon a part of the site of the old village of Dabros, which was looted and burned by the Dervishes during a raid wdiich they made on the district in 1888. Tradition says that a relative of the prophet preached Islam here, and that he died and was buried close by : be this as it may, the village was held to be a holy place, and Muhammadans made pilgrimages to it, and declared that special blessings were to be obtained there.

' See in the Fourth Egyptian Room of the British Museum, Nos. 20,712 and 30,709.

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