350 ON THE KINGDOM OF DARFOUR.

CHAPTER XIX.

ON THE KINGDOM OF DARFOUR.* The realms of Darfour, one of the most extensive dominions of central Africa, and totally unknown in its interior, consist of the following countries, partly provinces of the kingdom, and partly tributaries to that throne: Darfur, Runga,f * I consider myself justified in annexing these few remarks on Darfour to the description of Kordofan, although somewhat irrelevant to the subject, as so little is yet known of that kingdom, and the source of my information may be considered very authentic ; for I had it from no less a person than Sultan Abumedina, the brother of the Sultan of Darfour, and I am, moreover, of opinion that it will not be altogether useless in a geographical point of view.

t Runga is situated on a river, believed to be the White Nile, and is said to be a fertile country, with a very healthy climate.

Bananas, wild grapes, lemons, and three sorts of potatoes, grow in the country ; the first is a small and curved variety, which grows without cultivation in the sand ; the second variety resembles the European potatoe in shape and flavour, and is planted ; the third, which is also cultivated, is a giant potatoe, said to attain the weight of twelve oock'ckahs, equal to twenty-seven pounds. The country is supposed to be very rich in silver ore, of which but little use is made, as the smelting costs the natives too much trouble, Darfour draws a great deal of ivory and rhinoceros' horn from this country, but it has no camels. Islamism has made great progress there within the last few years. The religion of the natives is exceedingly simple ; they