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 tributary, either by their own free-will, or are rendered 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