The Gezira. 119 Arbagi. — Arbagi, which is close to Amara, is one of the oldest sites in the Sudan, and is mentioned by the learned Ludolphus in his history of Abyssinia. It was destroyed by the Shukria early in the 19th or at the end of 18th century.

Mesellemia. — Mesellemia, from which an administrative district takes its name, is about 11 miles nearly due south of Arbagi, and about 6 miles inland from the Blue Nile (L.B.). Prior to the Mahdia it was a very large town and a great centre of trade. People are now returning and are rebuilding it. Surrounding it is some of the most fertile land in the Sudan. Residence of a Mamur and headquarters of the district.

Wad Medani. — Population about 14,000 ; on left bank Blue Nile, just above its junction with Rahad ; about 1 mile long by | mile broad ; large market daily, also bi-weekly, Monday and Thursday, the largest in the Sudan next to Omdurman. Founded by El Fiki Medani about 1800 a.d. Post and telegraph office. Inhabitants : Gezira sedentary tribes, principally Khawalda, Arakin, Kawahla, Jaalin, Bussalia, and Medaniim. Headquarters of Gezira Province (1905). Garrison, one battalion. Rainfall here for 12 months — March 1903 to February 1904 was 31.3-5 m.m. or about 12 inches.

Senga. — Headquarters of Senga District : will probably be headquarters of Seimar Province in 1905. A large and increasing village, and next in importance to Wad Medani ; left bank Blue Nile about half mile long and some distance inland ; all built of straw huts except the Government buildings, which are of brick. Soil lertile, and district much wooded. Population about 1,600. Yearly increasing trade and daily market. Founded by Abdalla Wad El Hassan about 19 years ago. Inhabitants mostly Jaalin and Kenana. Post and telegraph offices.

Sennar. — Almost in ruins owing to Dervish occupation. Has lost all its former importance. Extends about I mile along the river, surrounded by an old trench and embankments. There is a large mosque of red burnt bricks, in a very bad state of repair. At the time of its re-occupation in 1898, Sennar town was in ruins and uninhabited ; it was made headquarters of the province tiU, in April, 1900, it was superseded by Wad Medani, Sennar remaining headquarters of a District. In March, 1903, the headquarters of the District were removed about 3 miles south of Sennar to Kabush on the river bank, where new buildings have been erected ; people are now moving and settling between old Sennar and Kabush. Bi-weekly market Monday and Thursday. In surrounding district soil very fertile, all land cultivated by rains, except in Sennar town, which is irrigated by five sagias. Near Kabush there is thick forest along the river, known as the forest of Kabush, extending nearly up to Ereidiba. Population 350. Inhabitants ; Kenana, Gawazma, Rufaa, Jaalin, Kawahla, etc.

Wad El Abbas. — Population about 1,200; right bank Blue Nile; founded about 50 years ago. Inhabitants, Jaalin and Gezira tribes, with some 300 blacks. Weekly market on Wednesdays.

Section 2. — Country South of Sennar-Goz Abu Guma Line to the Sobat.

(a) General Descriplion.

The country between the Niles south of north lat. 13° 30' (approximately) forms the southern portion of that Topography, known as " the Gezira " or " El Hoi," and is, save for the riverain population of the Blue Nile and the few villages on the White Nile between Goz Abu Guma and Jebelein, practically uninhabited as far south as north parallel 12°, which is the northern limit of Dar Fung.

With the exception of the water in natural tanks at Jebels Mazmum* and Gerebin (which are however apt to run dry) this level plain is waterless in the driest season, though the soil is of the richest description, and beyond here and there a few isolated granite hills, the highest of which is Abu Gurud, its surface is devoid of all inequalities and undulations. Not a single khor or wadi is discernible, and except for fairly wide belts of kittr bush, especially near the two rivers and round the bases of the hills, the country is on the whole fairly open until nearing Dar Fung, Dar Fung, when dense forest commences and stretches, apparently continuously, east and west from Nile to Nile.

Owing to the scanty water supply during the dry season and the spongy nature of the soil, it is almost impossible for caravans to travel otherwise than on the few existing tracks.

South of Gule this forest of talh, hashab, solfar, etc., extends uninterruptedly to the hills of Tabi on the southeast, and to Surkum and Keili to the south. About 30 miles south of Gule khors draining the Tabi hills become frequent, and the surface of the ground becomes stDny, making the going along the already narrow and much overgrown path exceedingly bad.

The districts of Fazogli, Keili, and the greater part of Dul and Kirin are undulating and much cut up by Fazoglian watercourses, and boast far more hills than the country further west towards the White Nile. The hills in these districts Keili.

* There is now a well at J. Soga, a few iiundred yards west of the village at the northern end of J. Mazmum ; there is also a well al .J. l>ali, which cannot, howevei", be relied on.