178 Kordqfan.

General.

Villagers.

raids to the Nuba hills, the (iezira, or Nahud, a place which, thouj;h never mentioned by old travellers, had over 4,0()0 inhabitants in March. I'.KX), and a large market with traders from the Bahr El (Jhazal, Darfur, and Wadai. Many of these jjeople have now returned to their villages, but they are, of course, greatly impoverished and reduced in numbers.

2. Inhabitants.

The inhabitants consist of Arabs in the plains and Nubas (or blacks) in the hills. The Arabs are either villagers or nomads; the latter being divided into camel owners (Siat El Ilbil) and cattle owners (Baggara). There are no camel owners south and no Baggara north of El Obeid ; in the south they are horse and cattle owners.

Nearly all the nomads grow a crop of dukhn, and in the west, where there are no wells, melons are grown for TAAISHA (bAOGARA) GIRL.

the cattle during the dry season. Portions of these nomad tribes have been obliged to becom'3 sedentary in con sequence of the destruction of their herds.

The village Arabs own small herds of sheep and goats, a few donkeys, and some cattle, and sometimes a camel or two. Near the river they cultivate the islands and low ground, growing dura, beans, onions, etc., Inland, dukhn, simsim, and melons form the chief crops, with a little cotton in places. Throughout Eastern Kordofan gum is collected largely and exchanged for dura or cotton goods.

Very poor after the defeat of the Khalifa, in consequence of two good years, they are now becoming fairly prosperous. A large area round each hslla (village) is under cultivation ; in the gum country, the gardens show signs of attention, and both the men and women, instead of wearing the dirty waist-cloth seen when the province was first occupied, now weai Manchester cotton goods very largely. Silver ornaments are becoming common.

They have few firearms, and, as a rule, only carry a spear or small axe, even when travelling.