HISTORY. 13

all duties, and the tribute paid was a voluntary pre-

sent to the Saltan of Darfour.

Bara, the second commercial town of importance

in the country, was built by the Dongolavi ; tribes

immigrated from the most distant parts, and this

province enjoyed a high degree of prosperity,

under the really mild government of Darfour. Commerce extended in all directions ; caravans

brought the produce from Abyssinia, the interior

of Africa, and from Egypt, into the two towns of

Lobeid and Bara, whence the greater part was

again transported into other countries. Abundance

might be said to reign everywhere, and there was

no want of any necessaries, whilst all were wealthy,

and even the women of the less opulent inhabitants

wore golden rings in their noses and ears, and many

even golden bracelets and silver anklets round their

feet. No other metal but gold or silver was to be

seen in the decoration of the women, and many

female slaves even wore gold about their persons.

Agriculture and cattle-breeding flourished, and there

were few inhabitants in the country who did not,

to a certain extent, devote themselves to commerce.

The whole population, in fact, lived free from care,

and was wealthy ; singing and dancing resounded

from place to place ; in short, this was the golden

age of Kordofan.

This state of happiness was not, however, of long

duration, for in the year 1821 Mehemed Ali sent

his son-in-law, the notorious Defturdar, with a