Merowe — Aho Hamed.

Names of Places.

Distances in miles.

Intermediate.

Total from Merowe.

Description.

Kabeinat (ruined forts) Mushaai ridge ..

Warrak Gamra ...

Berti Jebel Kirbekan...

34 39 40 42 48 56 The road leaves the river at El Kabur and follows the bed of a sandy khor until an old ruiued fort built upon a rocky prominence commanding the river is reached. The rocky and broken ground skirts the river between El Kabur and Kabeinat, and is impracticable for cavalry. Opposite this ruined fort there is another of a similar kind. The river between these two forts is very narrow, and forms the commencement of the Kabeinat Cataract. The road skirts the river bank ; but although the country is more open than that previously travelled it is broken at parts by rocky ridges and deep ravines. Much acacii and many dom palms are found. Kabeinat Cataract presents no difficulty to navigation, and although the current is rapid, no broken water otferiug serious impediments to the passage of boats, is met with until the Cab El Abd Gate, 2 miles above the ruined forts, is reached. Here there is a direct fall of water which, however, can be avoided by going over to the right bank.

From this point to Mushani ridge, which may be called the upper end of Gab El Abd Cataract, the river presents most serious difficulties. Tracking from rocks and islands has invariably to be resorted to, and at low Nile it is doubtful whether even light boatn could be taken up this part of the river. Mushani Ridge commands the country to the north-east as far as the distant hills overlooking Berti. The ridge runs at right angles to the river, and the rocks and boulders in which it terminates come down close to the left bank of the river. There is but little cultivation along this part of the river, except on the islands of Umderas and Amri, the former of which is passed just after leaving Kabeinat, and at the village of Shebabik on the right bank opposite the lower end of Umderas Island. There is a large tomb and a few detached huts at this point, with a certain amount of cultivation, very good camping grounds, much mimosa, and many dom-palm trees. The cataract of Um Hababoa is here met with, lying between Kandi Island and the left bank. It is very difficult, and it is supposed, from the remains of wreckage found lying about, it was near tins point that Ismail Pacha abandoned his boats in 1820. This cataract can be avoided at high Nile by going between the islands of Amri and Kandi, the piwsage between which islands was nearly diy in February, 1885. A track leads from Warrak to Berti, across rocky and broken ground ; but it is not much shorter than that generally followed. The road skirts the river through considerable cultivation, mostly dukhn. At Gamra, which is opposite the upper end of Kandi Island, there are several native huts, and good camping grounds can everywhere be found. The river between Warrak and Gamra is not difficult ; but there is a very swift current, and tracking is necessary at certain points from the left bank. One mile beyond Gamra the road leaves the river to avoid the rocky kopjes which command the foot and mark the commencement of the Eahami Cataract. It strikes the river again 2 miles below Berti. It is very rocky, and much cut up by deep khors and ravines. A broad, sandy khor leaves the rivtr li miles above Gamra, and runs away to the east until lost in the desert.

By following this khor until it strikes the Kulgeili-Berti road, the mountains and rocky countiy overlooking Berti can be avoided, and Berti entered at its upper end. The river between the foot of Rahami Cataract and Berti offers most serious obstacles to navigation. The boat channel lies along the right bank. Berti is a scattered village extending over a length of 2 miles. It is situated mostly on an island which, howevei', forms part of the mainland at low Nile. The cultivation is very rich and plentiful, and barley, dura, cotton, wheat, beans, dates, and dukhn growin great abundance. This is the boundary between Dongola and Berber Provinces. The lower end of the village is situated in rocky gi'ound, but the larger portion lies in the open.

The direct road from Jebel Kulgeili enters near the house of Suleiman Wad Gamr, about half-way up the village. Berti is the head-quarters of the Monasir tribe, and is on the boundary between Berber and Dongola Provinces. The island of Ishashi is passed just before reaching Berti, and is very richly cultivated. Between Berti and El Kirbekan there are several pieces of broken water, but nothing worthy of the term " cataract " is to be met with until opposite Dulka Island, where the cataract of Ragabat El Gamal obstructs the river ; it is uol; difficult. Boni I'land lies on the right side of the river, abreast of and overlapping Dulka Island, and between it and the right bank the eitaract of Abu Siiyal is situated. It is impassable at low Nile. In the centre of Boni Island, and in prolongation of the Kirbekan