RELATIVE DISTANCES OF IMPORTANT PLACES. 91 palms. It is a place of much importance in connection with the Expedition for the relief of General Gordon, as it practically forms the base of operations. From Philse to Wady Haifa the troops will be transported by boats. From Wady Haifa a railway about thirty miles long turns a portion of the Second Cataract, and strikes the Nile at Sarass. The town is somewhat picturesque, but the surrounding country is drear and desolate. Wady Haifa is, however, often enlivened by encampments of traders on their way to or returning from the Soudan. Here the merchandise is transferred from camels to boats, or vice versa. Lord Wolseley arrived at Wady Haifa on October 5th in a Nile steamer. He took up his head-quarters in a dahabeah, and at once began to make short tours of inspection.

The Cataract of Wady Haifa, or the Second Cataract, is from nine to fourteen miles long. Dahabeahs cannot as a rule ascend above the Cataract. The boat used above this is the nuggar. Four miles north of Wady Haifa is the north terminus of the proposed Sondan Railway, of which thirty-three miles of rails are laid, the permanent way being completed some twenty-two miles further on. At Sarass the boats of Lord Wolseley’s Expedition took the water, and the real difficulties began.

From Cairo to Semneh, 828 miles.

The Cataract of Semneh is not difficult, and with a fair wind nuggars can pass wbh their cargoes. The part of the river about Semneh is called by the Arabs Batu en Hogar, or “ the Belly of Rock.” On either bank are interest¬ ing temples of the third Thothmes. That on the east bank consists of a portico, a hall parallel to it, and some minor chambers. It stands in an extensive enclosure. The river can be crossed on frail rafts, made of logs lashed together, and pushed forward by men who swim behind it. The tem¬ ple on the west side consists of only one chamber. At Semneh north wdnds are prevalent.

From Cairo to Hannek, (?) Proceeding up the Nile from Wady Haifa the following minor cataracts are passed :—Semneh, Ambigole, Okmeh, Dal and Kaibar. The last-named is seven or eight miles in length. It is impassable at Low Nile, but only pass¬ able at High Nile. This difficulty surmounted, the next important obstruc¬ tion is the Third Cataract, or Cataract of Hannek, which is impassable at Low Nile, but passable at High Nile. From Wady Haifa to this point the Nile is practically one series of rapids extending over a distance of 130 miles, the passage of three of the cataracts being very difficult. From the Cataract of Hannek onwards there is clear water for about 220 miles.

From Cairo to Abu Hamad, 1,297 miles. From the Third Cataract to Abu Hamad the Nile makes a large rightangle bend. Proceeding up stream, the Island of Argo is first passed, and