2 BORDERS.

Kordofan has no townships on the Bahr-Abiad, or

White Nile, for the village nearest to this river is

situate at a distance of about four hours' march

from its banks. The Nomadic tribes, inhabiting

the western shore, belong to the realms of Sennaar,

and are entirely distinct from the natives of Kordo-

fan; the Bakara-Kubbabeesh * only, a Nomadic

tribe, also, frequently drive their herds to the bor-

ders of the White River for pasturage. The five dis-

tricts are named severally : Korci, Bara, Ketshmar,

Abou-Haraz, and Dayara. Each of them is go-

verned by a Casheff, or captain of the district, who

is at the same time captain in a regiment of the

line. Taking a general view of Kordofan, it may

be said to consist chiefly of a cluster of small and

large oases, which are not far distant from each

other, as in the Great Desert. The soil is sandy

throughout, and the country is rather flat than

mountainous. In the vicinity of Haraza, however,

a chain of mountains arises, shelving off" towards the White River ; while the mountains in the interior are

inconsiderable, several of which may be seen towards

the south and south-east. The soil is, on the whole,

very fertile ; for, with the commencement of the

rainy season, vegetation springs up from the earth

as if by magic, and nature then shows herself in her

full vigour and pomp; balsamic odours, which act

almost intoxicatingly on the senses, are everywhere

breathed forth, and the traveller might imagine

* A pastoral race.