100 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

(Portugahn), pomegranates (Ruman), figs (tihn), nay, even the vine itself (einap).* The position of the land is also highly favourable for the export of its superabundant produce. It lies between the Red Sea and the Nile : to Sauachinn, on the former, is fourteen or fifteen days' journey for laden camels ; to Berber, on the Nile, ten or twelve ; from both of these places there is abundance of transport. Then it is more than probable, that, without much diflSculty, the Atbai'a might be made navigable as far as Gos Rajeb, for at least four months in the year ; for though, as far as we could judge from a view of its bed in the summer or dry season, this is full of sand banks and sunken rocks, still the banks show most plainly how high the river rises, and what an immense body of water it contains in the rainy season, and as Air as my opinion goes, I see no reason why it could not be easily made available for transport. To found stores and magazines at various places, and convey the produce there would certainly be necessary, and this, ere the rainy season set in, as then all roads become impassable for man or beast. But could not these channels of communication be improved ? If the natives, by widening these, cutting down the large trees, and clearing the dense bush, would only expose them to the drying powers of wind and sun, then would undoubtedly the roads be available for traffic a month earlier than now. The present so-called roads (derba, sicca, main roads) are nothing but narrow, nay often hardly traceable footpaths, at times formed by the wild animals, which, by their constant and repeated windings to avoid thickets or other small impediments, greatly lengthen the •way, and such paths too are ever overgrown with trees, and choked tip with brush and jungle.

At present all trade is confined to honey, durra, butter, and salt, brought by the natives on the Red Sea ; but this might be much increased and extended to other articles, — cattle-breeding, for instance; the present most numerous herds, by a Jittle attention, might be easily improved and greatly increased, as their support is a matter of no difficulty, and hides might thus become articles of trade. By like care and improvement of the flocks of * These names, Euman and P»rtiigahn, point to emigration from Greece and Portugal, although the first fniit may be found among the hieroglyphics.