HISTORY. 11

CHAPTER II.

HISTORY.

Every one will agree that it is no easy matter

to write the history of a country, or, rather, of a

province, whose inhabitants live in a state of utter

ignorance, and care little for the occurrences which

took place but half the period of the life of man

before them. There exist, moreover, no chronicles

capable of giving information on any event which might serve as reference ; thus I was unable to ex-

tend my researches, or to learn more than was com-

municated to me by a faquir,* seventy-eight years

of age, who appeared to me worthy of belief, and who had been an eye-witness of all the recent

events.

Kordofan takes its name from a mountain, situ-

ate at three and a half hours' march to the south-

east of Lobcid. The aborigines are negroes from

Nubia, who, even at the present time, inhabit many

parts of Kordofan. The word Kordofan itself is

of Nubian derivation. Three tribes subsequently

immigrated : the Hadejat, el Giomme, and Bederie.

A hermit, and also a schoolmaster.