352 ON THE KINGDOM OF DARFOUR.

sists of ivory, rhinoceros' horns, white copper, gold, and slaves. The seraskier, or general, who resides at Shata or Deleb, is forced to levy the tribute ; and detachments of troops are continually on foot in the various districts, engaged in collecting the taxation, for which purpose they are always obliged to resort to coercive measures. The army consists of irregular troops armed with shield and spear, and some few with bows and arrows. The cavalry are provided with very hardy horses, and armed with double-edged sabres, which they obtain from Germany ; they are, in part, clad like the old Numidian horse in shirts of mail, purchased at large sums in Arabia ; so high, indeed, is the price of this armour, that it might be manufactured in Germany at one fourth of the cost. There are only about four hundred muskets, of various shapes and sizes, in the whole army ; their balls they cast of copper. At El Fasher, the capital of Darfour, four iron cannons are mounted. Dar-Marra, a large hill, situated at a distance of two short days' journey from El Fasher, is considered the fort of Darfour, and is believed to be impregnable, as it has a neverfailing supply of water, and if besieged, might grow sufficient corn for the consumption of the garrison. The army of Darfour, has, at various times, ventured as far as Banda,* Wuanga, and Pegu, but was always beaten back with considerable loss. Mo-* Banda has been vaunted to me as a country rich in gold ; it is also said to possess a large quantity of white copper.