MerouK—Abu ITamed.

Itinkraby (Lkft Bank) from Abu Dom Sanam to oxtosite Hebi (ou Hkisb.v) {Major Slade, R.A., Fehruarii, 1885.)

Xames of Places. Description.

El Daeini Sagas; Gereif Nurri Belal Khor-el-Sorawi ...

Kanisa El Dtigaiyet Hamdab Jebel Kulgeili Auli E! Kabur ;: u u 12 13 18 22 30 33 A small scattered village ; a large white-domed tomb makes it visible for some distance. A compact hamlet, mostly of straw huts, 4 mile from the river. The lianks, which for the last 4 miles have been bare, here become studded with palms. A collection of wells and sagias from which the ground is cultivated. The uncultivated ground is covered with coarse grass. A low range of hills here touches the south of the road. This village extends a considerable distance inland. Near it, to the south of the road are 11 pyramids. Soon after leaving them the alluvial ground over which the road has hitherto passed gives place to sand. A large well-built village. The road here run? close to the river between small patches of cultivation and a track of very broken rocky ground, which comes to within 4 mile of the river. This stony tract is about 50 feet above the alluvial ground. At tlie east end of the village ci break in the cultivation leaves room for a small camp on the river bank.

A dry watercourse, 20 yards wide. It shows signs of out-pouring a considerable stream in the rainy season. 1 mile further to the east the river makes a sliarp lend to the north-east, the edge of broken ground continuing to run in an easterly direction. The road takes an intermediate course across a plain of firm gravel which lies between the rocks and the river. A small village A mile to the north of the road, at the foot of a small rocky hill, in au angle of the river. A scattered village. The broken ground here again comes to within i mile of the river.

There is a good camping ground on the river bank near the village. The road to Bir Sani and Berber here branches off. It runs at first over very rocky ground. There are said to be 90 islands in the river between this place and Belal. The cultivation of the district is for the most part on these islands. A very long village with a fair amount of cultivation. The road from Dugaiyet runs between the broken ground and thick bush. Just before reaching Hamdab the rocky ground opens out considerably at the mouth of the Khor El Shungui. A good camping ground on the river bank. The road described from Hamdab onwards was followed by part of Eiver Column, 188."). Dates, durfi, cotton, dukhn, and barley grown. The road to Berber leaves the river about 2 miles below Hamdab, crossing the rocky ground at a point marked by two solitary dom palms. Good camping ground for a large force, commanded by rocky ridge, 400 yai-ds from river. The road as far as Jebel Kulgedi skirts the belt of cultivation, which is interspersed with a few native houses. It is commanded the whole way by a low ridge of rocks, at n, distance from the river varying from 50 to 500 yards. Jebel Kulgeili, 400 feet high, commands the surrounding country for a distance of several miles. The direct desert road toBerti (19 miles) leaves the river at the foot of this hill. The road, after leaving Kulgeili, becomes rocky and much cut up by ravines and sandy kliors, gradually becoming more diflicult as the islands of Auli are approached. The ricer between Hamdab and Auli is quite open, and free from broken water. At Auli the cataract of Terai commences ; but it is not difficult. There are several houses and much cultivation on the islands and on the left bank. Good camping grounds are to be found. Cidtivation extends along the road, broken at times by rocky and barren ground. At El Kabur, which is situated at the end of the nest of islands which forms the 4th or Ederrai Cataract, there is scanty cultiAation and a few houses. From Aidi to El Kabur by water the boat channel follows the right bank. There is one difficult gate, aljout two-thirds of the way u|), at which heavy stores have to be poi-taged. The country to the east of the road along the left bank is very rocky and broken, and nearly impracticable for cavalry.