12 HISTORY.

The period of this immigration, however, cannot be

definitely determined. These three nomadic tribes

distributed themselves over the country round about Mount Kordofan, occupied themselves with cattle-

breeding, and each tribe had its sheikh, or magis-

trate ; but from these three tribes, collectively, a head was chosen, who acted as impartial judge in all ques-

tions of difficulty, and, in fact, as the last authority.

This people became, towards the middle of the last

century, better acquainted with Sennaar. The King of

Sennaar, namely, sent, in the year 1779, the Sheikh

Nacib, with two thousand cavalry, to take possession

of the country, and the tribes surrendered, with a

pretty good grace, to their fate, without offering much resistance. Thus they remained for about five

years, under the government of Sennaar. A Melek

was instituted, and the people felt themselves happy

under his government. Several Arab tribes, and

people from Sennaar and Dongola, immigrated into

the country, and agriculture and commerce began

to flourish. Darfour now directed its attention to-

wards this province, and entered on a campaign,

in which the Melek-el-IIashma was driven out of

Sennaar, and expelled the country for ever. Me-

leks now governed this country in the name of the

Sultan of Darfour, up to the year 1821, during thirty-

five years of the reign of Mehemed Ibn Fadels.

During this epoch the country was also prosperous

;

the inhabitants lived in peace, and were not trou-

bled with taxes ; the merchants were exempt from