Meroive — Ahu Hamed.

41 Names of Places.

Opposite Hebi,or Hebbii Distance in miles.

Intermediate.

I Total from Merowe.

88 Description.

track ascends a rocky plateau, fioni the summit of which the first view of .Je'Del Oama is obtained. The Island of Sherrai follows Slioar Island, but it is very barren and rocky. One mile up this island the cataract of Tuari is passed. It is very difficult, and the river is here mucli broken by rocks and shallows. After passing Tuari Cataract the cultivation increases still more, and sacias and groups of date palms occur at frequent intervals along the bank. The fertile and densely populated Island of Sherri succeeds that of Sherrari. The track continues along the bank of the river, deviating occasionally to avoid clusters of rocks on a khor, until Salanuit, op|)osite the uppei' end of Sherri Island, is reached. It is at this point that the cataract of Um Deras is placed on the official maps, but no impediment to navigation exists. Salamat, the principal village in the Monasu- country, is a long straggling village of fairly-built mud huts, the princii)al of which belong to Suleiman Wad Gamr and his uncles, Omar and Abu Bakr. The country is very rich and there are several large groups of palm trees. The desert comes down to the bank of the river on the right bank, just above Salamat. The track, after leaving Salamat, follows the bank of the river until Jebel (.)sma is reached, 3 miles Leaving this solitary mountain on the left, a detour of 1 mile is made, where the river is again struck. A broad sandy khor runs at the foot of Jebel Osma. The bank is now followed until abreast of the village of Hebi, situated on the right bank. The road is good throughout. Patches of rich cultivation are constantly met with, near groups of huts built in the rooks and bouldei-s, which are left on the right-hand side. There are two broad khors running into the desert between Salamat and Jebel Osma.

Mimosa or sunt trees, of an unusually large size, are met with along the road. The river is free from obstruction.

If going to Abu Hamed, it is advisable to cross the Nile opposite Hebi, where the i-iver affords great facilities for crossing and swimming animals. The island of Kan and smaller islands on the right bank may be utilized in the crossing. Lieut. -Colonel Stewart's steamer, on its way from Khartoum, was wrecked on the island of Kan on the 18th September, 1884, and he and his party were treacherously murdered in the house of one named Othman Fakri, commonly known as Othman Amian, in the village of Hebi. Hebi is a straggling village, composed of small mud huts, built in the rocks. There are some conspicuous palm trees on the bank of the river. The village was completely destroyed by the British troops in February, 188."). There is much cultivation in and near Hebi : dura, dukhn, barley, beans, etc., growing in luxuriance.