90 THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN.

Esneh is a great place for marketing. One of the chief features of Esneh is the colony of Ghawazee, or dancing girls, who inhabit a separate hamlet.

From Cairo to Edf >u, 514 miles. From Cairo to Assouan, 583 miles. At Assouan is the first cataract. There is a general impression that the Nile cataracts are species of miniature Niagaras, whereas they are really little more than a succession of rapids, whirlpools and eddies caused by rocks and islets. At High Nile all but the tallest rocks are covered with water, and then it is possible for boats to sail up what is practically little more than a very powerful stream. As the river falls, however, it becomes divided into numerous narrow channels, which necessitate the boats being towed through the rapids and falls which are then produced. The First Cataract, or Cataract of Assouan, is from two to three miles long Both Dahabeahs and Nuggars (smaller Nile boats) pass with their cargoes at High Nile. At Low Nile, when ascending and descending, they usually discharge cargo. The gradient is not more than one in fifteen. Up to this point navigation is perfectly easy. Seven or eight steamers go up and down the Nile from Assouan to Cairo (twelve days). Seven postal steamers ply between Assiout and Assouan (four days), and then from Philae, above the First Cataract, to Wady Haifa (fortytwo hours). Nile steamers can pass the First Cataract from August until January, and boats of not more than sixty tons can pass at all seasons. The river bank has always a lively appearance as the large vessels unship their cargo, which is transported on camel-back or by rail six miles up the river beyond the Cataract. For this purpose there is a short railway, and by this our men and stores, as they arrive from Siout, at Assouan, are transhipped and forwarded to Philm, where steame.s will take them to Wady Haifa, a distance of 200 miles.

From Cairo to Korosko, 705 miles. At Korosko the river makes a rapid and beautiful reverse curve. From Korosko the direct route strikes across the Nubian Desert to Abu Hamad, the Upper Nile, Shendy, Sennaar, and Khartoum. To Abu Hamad is a distance of 227 miles, and a large bend in the river is thus avoided. But the desert is almost waterless, and offers a tremendous obstacle to the move¬ ment of a force of any size. It was from Korosko that General Gordon and Colonel Stewart started on their adventurous journey across the desert to Khartoum. Though a place of considerable traffic as the point of departure for the Upper Nile and Khartoum, Korosko is in itself scarcely a village. A few scattered huts lie along the foot of the mountain, and the bank is gene¬ rally lined with the tents and merchandise of traders.

From Cairo to Wady Haifa, 793 miles.

Wady Haifa is a large village lying scattered amongst a thick belt of