234 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

somewhat bowlike form, from the south to the east, the land of the Bcni Amer, which, in its people and their habits, much resembles the Haddenda ; its southern part is hilly, more so than on the east, where it slopes away till it reaches the Red Sea. It receives its principal supplies of water from the Gohr Baraka, which has its rise in the north-east chain of the Abyssinian mountains, and winds through the lands of Kostahn and Maria westwards, then divides into two branches, one of which runs eastward by Sauakin into the Red Sea, and the other through the Beni Amer. On its course to Sabderath, where date and tamarindtrees are to be found, it loses much of its waters, and beneath that hill it divides again into two arms, one of which runs southward round the hill of Kassela-el-Lus, by the village of Hafara, and the other westward, by Hauathi, into the Gohr-el-Gash. Among the Beni Amer, cultivation is not much pursued, but attention is paid to cattle-breeding, and they have many of these, and camels with large humps, which they barter with the Haddenda for grain. There are also in their land many giraffes and elephants, the teeth of which they pay tribute in.

North-east of Basa, to the frontiers of Makada, and to the south-east of the Beni-Amer, extend the hills of Baria, inhabited by a numerous race of blacks, heathens, who, however, wear the ferda. They are a stout, warlike race, great hunters, and therefore little of agriculturists.

INIaria, yet more populous, and on the western frontier of Habesch, and south-west of Sauakin, has, on the contrary, much grain, and many most beauteous female slaves, of a copper-brown and red-yellow colour. These people have a sultan, and manners very like the Abyssinians. It is said they are Christians (Nassara), and not badly disposed or cruel ; to this it is not unlikely Christianity has somewhat contributed. Tlie hills there are well covered with fine trees, and tamarinds are plentiful ; but also immense serpents, of which most wonderful tales are told. The natives are most dexterous in weaving straw.

On the land of Maria joins, to the S. E., Kostahn, the tribes of which are the most warlike of all, and are ruled by a sultan. Both races much resemble the Abyssinians, and in Kostahn are both Christians and heathens. Swords are rare ; with their lances.