TRAVELS IN KORDOFAN,

ETC.

CHAPTER I.

POSITION OP THE COUNTRY ; BORDERS, RIVERS, SOIL, AND CLIMATE.

KoRDOFAN, one of the most southern provinces

under the government of the Viceroy of Egy|)t,

extends in the north from Haraza to Kodero, in the

south from the Nuba mountains, and eastwards

from Caccia to the Shilluk or Shillook* mountains,

about four degrees of longitude. The desert of

Dongola forms its northern border, that of Darfur

its western limit. Towards the south, no definite

confines can be described, as the extent of these

dominions increases or decreases accordingly as the

inhabitants of this part of the country become tri-

butary, either by their own free-will, or are ren-

dered subjects by force, as occasionally occurs, and

subsequently free themselves from the yoke. On this

account the present government has divided the

country into five districts, and regards Kodero, and

the free heathen Nuba, as its southern border.

* The Rev. J. Russell's Nubia and Abyssinia, p. 179.—Tr. B