214 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

observations. It was to Dongola that the expedition was to be first directed, a country of which M'Coan speaks as one of the finest of the Soudan provinces, whose southern districts are within the zone of the annual rains, while it is washed northward by the overflow of the Kile over the area known as Wady Jaijar or Great Dongolese plain. By the great curve of the river, which begins some miles above old Dongola, is inclosed a peninsula, often misnamed the desert of Bayuda or the Bayuda desert. This, though greatly affected by the insurrection in the Soudan, was properly a fairly inhabited territory peopled by several tribes, who reared large flocks of sheep, goats, and camels, and cultivated considerable tracts of land. It was across this district, on the line of the wells, from Korti, beyond Ambukol and the third cataract, where a camp had been formed for the whole force, that the column commanded by the gallant Sir Herbert Stewart afterwards crossed the peninsula to Abu Klea and Gukdal, and so striking the Nile again by Gubat Metammeh and Abu Km, hastened, as it was believed, to the relief of Gordon at Khartum — a story to which we shall presently have to give our attention.

In the great curve of the river (the difficult journey round which and the weary work of passing the cataracts is saved by the march straight across) the country of the Berbers is passed, — another fertile tract, to the south-east of which lies the province of Toka, already noticed as one of the most productive portions of Egyptian territory. Of the other provinces belonging to the Soudan we have already noted some particulars in earlier pages. The first cataract at Assouan does not present any great difficulties at any season. At high Nile boats may sail up wTith a favourable wind, and even at low Nile 30-ton boats can be towed up; — the Nile steamers passing from the months of August to January; — but at low Nile the dayabeeahs and nuggars usually discharge both ascending and descending. Between the first and second cataracts navigation is practicable all the year round, but at low Nile constant vigilance is necessary for avoiding the numerous sand-banks, and the passage of sailing boats is uncertain, because