By Major Powell, R.E., March, 1903.

Place.Miles.Description.
Inter-mediate.Total.
Erkowit——South over easyground to head of Khor Amrat, down the sandy bed of the khor W.N.W.Leaving the khor the track rises for ¼ mile over a stony slope,reaching the Baramil Plain at 4 miles from Erkowit. For 14 milesthe track runs W.N.W. over the firm surface of the plains. Largeherds of ariel are seen, a few flocks and nomad Arabs, but nowater. Down stony and occasionally narrow khor N.W. to Towai Wells,which are at side of khor 12 feet deep. Water fair andplentiful.
Towai Wells18¾18¾
Sinkat2¾21½Down Khor Towai over a low stony rise anddescend W.N.W.; wide khor until it joins the open Sinkat Valley andreaches the well and ruins of the old Fort at 21½ miles.

(β) ERKOWIT to SINKAT, viâ KHOR GEBET.

By Major Powell, R.E., March, 1903.

Place.Miles.Description.
Inter-mediate.Total.
Erkowit——Route descends the valley W.S.W. fromErkowit by rocky surface track over ridges and dips, rising after2½ miles by a stony ascent to the edge of Baramil plateau. Thislength is the worst part of the route, it is practicable, but notgood for loaded camels, and is easily capable of improvement byunskilled labour.
Gebet Well14¼14¼Along Baramilplateau, W. for about 2 miles, then N.N.W. over gentle ascent, andcross an easy but stony agaba, and descent N. down a khor leadingto the open valley of Gebet. No obstacle. Gentle descent N.W. tothe well at 14¼ miles. Water good; large flocks and herds; one well30 feet deep. Down the open valley W.N.W. 3 miles, where route isjoined by the direct track from Suakin to Sinkat, viâ theSinkat agaba, then W. 1 mile to a short stony agaba leading intothe Khor Abu Shid, the main valley of which is reached at mile 20.Thence easy going over a wide wadi to Sinkat at mile 23.
Sinkat8¾23

8.—KASSALA to SUAKIN, viâ FILIK, MAMAN, and KHOR SITARAB.

By Lieut.-Col. Mitford, April, 1899.

(Corrected up to 1900.)

Place.Miles.Description.
Inter-mediate.Total.
Kassala——On leaving Kassala, a N. by W. directionis taken over flat, sandy ground, intersected by small khorsrunning into the Khor El Gash; many low trees of the acacia tribeand the green-leafed kurmet bush, but passage among them easy inany direction.
Khor Debeloeid5½5½A shallow khor, flowing from S.S.W. toN.N.E. two miles on; this khor is recrossed, flowing westward; herethe trees are thicker and taller.
Khor Gamam3½9A branch of the Khor El Gash, 20 feetdeep, 15 to 20 yards wide; proceeding down the khor for ½ mile thewells are reached. Banks thickly fringed with high tamarisks; bushvery close.
Bir Gamam½9½Two wells; now 12 feet deep, 3 feetdiameter; water plentiful. Many wells exist now in this khor forabout 2 miles N. from this point. After winding about in the bushfor a mile, country again becomes open; many open spaceshalf-a-mile to a mile in breadth. Direction N. A good deal ofcultivation here.
Gamam5½15Formerly a large Hadendoa hamlet; itssite now marked by a stony mound to the E. known as Habuba. A mileon one passes many skulls and human bones scattered all over theground for some distance. This spot was the scene of the firstencounter of the Kassala garrison and the Dervishes in the winterof 1883-4. Later on Osman Digna had a large standing camp ofHadendoa at the same place. Arabs say “20,000 young men” werecollected there and guarded by Baggara horsemen, who, when foodfailed, refused to let them leave; so many hundreds died ofstarvation.
Hageror924The name of the district. At this point,1 mile W. of our route, is the site of the old telegraphmaintenance post of the old Suakin—Kassala telegraph line, close toa branch of the Khor El Gash (Khor Herbub). Arabs say water can befound 10 to 15 feet below the surface anywhere in this khor;fringed with high trees. Direction now is E.N.E.; country asbefore, but cotton soil.
Khor Bahr Shamil3½27½A shallow depression, 200 to 300 yardsbroad, no defined banks, thickly grown over by laot trees.
Khor Delai330½Twenty yards broad, 4 feet deep, flowingW. High trees along banks. At the 33rd mile the trees disappear;country is cotton soil with tussocks of grass, full of holes andbreaks away at every step. Very bad going for men and animals. Asthe Khor Herbub is approached, grass, 3 feet high, becomesthicker.
Khor Herbub10¾41¼A branch of the Gash, 20 feet broad, 20feet deep. Proceed due W. for 1¼ miles through high trees.
Bir Tokar1¼42½One well,[7] 20 feet deep, 3 feetdiameter, 1 foot of water at bottom of well. After drawing 400gallons supply was exhausted and water came in very slowly. Watergood. Good grazing for horses and camels, and plenty of shade.Retracing one’s steps back across the Khor Herbub, a direction 72°(true) was taken and followed as far as Khor Togan. Bad cotton soiland tussocks of grass as before.
Filik2½45Formerly the largest and most importantcollection of hamlets of the Hadendoa of the Gash. Now no traces,with the exception of three charred dom palm trees, which supportedthe roof of the old telegraph maintenance post. Many wells, andwater plentiful in Khor Tokar ½ mile W.
Going very bad; at the 49th mile belts oflaot trees are passed through. At the 53rd mile surface of groundimproves; more sandy, with patches of small stones or pebbles.
J. Tisheiga1156One mile to right. Ground now descendsgently; several small khors are crossed, running westward; trees inkhors and along banks, kittr and samr. Ground sandy, withoccasional patches of stones; excellent going.
Khor Yelkuk561Also called Telkuk. One hundred yardsbroad, flowing westwards. Ten miles up this khor are wells and anArab settlement. Many trees; good grazing for camels. Two miles tothe north are low black hills called J. Kadabu. Country asbefore.
Khor Taugon5½66½One hundred yards broad, banks 4 feethigh. One well here not yet reopened, in bed of khor; high treesand dom palms in bed and along banks. Two and half miles E. is J.Taugon. General direction 62°.
Khor Shamfeid2½69A small khor running into Khor Maman.Same direction being followed, J. Maman with its four peaksstraight ahead. Ground rises gently and then descends towards theKhor Maman; with stones in places.
Khor Maman675One hundred yards broad, banks 4 feethigh; many high trees and doms; excellent grazing for camels.Crossing the khor and following up its right bank for 1½ miles thewells are reached. Under J. Maman are seen many hundreds of stonehuts, which, according to the Arabs, were built many centuries ago;also many large stone graves.
Bir Maman1½76½Two wells, 40 feet deep, 3 feet diameter,water good and plentiful at all seasons.
On leaving the wells, the track, veryfaint, over stony ground, made by the party constructing the newtelegraph line, was followed for the next 40 miles. The telegraphline itself is within sight of the track on one side or the other.Track proceeds up khor for ¾ mile, then passes round S.E. corner ofJ. Maman, and turns due N. J. Maman on the W. and J. Tudab on theE. form a pass, 1½ to 2 miles broad; ground sandy, with patches ofstones; flat, good going; several small khors are crossed.
Khor Hashaneid682½One hundred yards broad, 3 feet banks.Dom palms and trees.
Khor Tudab284½
Khor Fagada286½
Khor Toteb187½Eighty yards broad, 5 feet banks. Runsinto the Khor Kudameieb. Dom palms, kittr, samr, and the thornlesskurmet trees. One and a half miles E. is J. Yaied, some 1,500 feethigh, and 6 to 7 miles long, a mass of black basaltic rock, steeplyescarped on its western side.
For the next 12 miles, ground traversedis hard sand, sloping from hills on the E., and covered withstones; very bad going; in the small watercourses (during rains)are belts of samr and kittr trees.
Khor Gedamaieb4½92Fifty yards broad, 6 feet banks. Trees; 2miles on, a similar khor is crossed, bearing the same name.
At 96½ miles the top of a watershed isreached, and J. Kureib comes in sight, E.N.E. J. Bakutneb is some 3or 4 miles to the N.
Khor Abuladein7½99½Twenty yards broad, 6 feet banks. Groundnow sandy, and more trees.
Khor Serera4103½One hundred yards broad, 6 feet banks.Dom palms. Runs into the Khor Abu Ledein.
Khor Togul3¼106¾Thirty yards broad, 3 feet banks. Followthe khor 1 mile down stream.
Bir Ali Kalai1107¾One well 40 feet deep, 2 feet 6 inchesdiameter; water good, but supply only 300 gallons at date, andrefilled very slowly. Khor Weidab joins Khor Togul from the S.lower down.
Returning up the khor 1 mile, a N.E.direction is taken. Ground very stony and undulating, andintersected by several large khors. Trees in watercourses and alongbanks of khor. The track runs more or less parallel with J. Kureib,4 or 5 miles distant to the E.; a range some 8 miles long, 2,300feet (approximate) above the general level, very precipitous onwestern side; black basaltic rocks.
Watershed9¼117Up to this point all khors crossed runinto the Khor El Gash; northwards of this watershed, khors run intothe Khor Langeb.
Khor Arideib4121The direction of the new telegraph lineis left 3 miles before reaching this khor. Direction N.N.W. Lowground sandy, with trees and grass; high ground stony androcky.
Khor Kei-Eiteb5126
Khor Gambeleib1½127½The downward course of this khor,trending W. and S.W., is now followed for 4½ miles; severalsubsidiary khors join it from either side. Water could probably befound anywhere here, as trees are finer and creepers are festoonedalong the trees; many kurmet bushes, marakh, and tundub; goodgrazing for camels.
Bir Hamashaueb4132Also called Bir Akrat. One well 50 feetdeep, 3 feet diameter; water good and plentiful.
Returning up the khor for 2 miles towhere Khor Gambeleib joins Khor Homashaueb, the upward course ofthe latter khor is followed for 2 miles, and then a N.N.E.direction taken. Ground very stony and rising; intersected by smallkhors running from hills to the east.
Khor Omli12144No defined banks; its course marked bythe trees.
Khor Yaskalab4148Also called Khor Kubri. One well here 45feet deep, 3 feet diameter; water good, but supply uncertain; it isgenerally dry at this time of the year.
Khor Hedaweb5153Similar to KhorGambeleib. One and half miles down the khor is Bir Hedaweb. Onewell 9 feet deep, 3 feet 6 inches diameter; water good andplentiful; there is said to be a better well 1 to 2 miles furtherdown the khor.
Bir Hadaueb1154
On the south side of the khor, close tothe well, are the remains of the old telegraph line maintenancepost.
Returning up the khor ½ mile, a branchkhor coming in from the N. is followed up past a large graveyard.At the 156th mile this khor is left, and the neck between two rockyhills is crossed. Going very bad; rough and stony.
Khor Belag6½160½Two hundred yards broad, 2 feet banks.Excellent grazing for camels in this khor. For 7 miles its downwardcourse is followed. Arabs say that it flows into Khor Windi, but at167½ miles the khor appears dammed up with sand dunes 8 to 10 feethigh, and its level is the same as that of the surroundingcountry.
Khor Hegadab8¼168¾Flows towards the E. Ground ascends, anda mile on a stony pass between the hills is reached. J. Adarababnow comes in sight, noticeable from several chimney-like rockswhich stand up above the general level of the top of the range. Ashort descent, then a sandy plain with patches of stones inplaces.
Khor Windi4172¾This khor is entered, and its down-streamcourse followed for the next 8 miles. No water now obtainable inthis khor; trees are more stunted, and their leaves more yellow anddried up than in the preceding khors. At 177½ miles is the site ofthe old telegraph maintenance post and well, now filled in manyyears ago.
At 180 miles the khor is left, and aplain traversed, alternately sandy with tufts of grass and stony;several narrow deep khors are crossed. At 188¼ miles the level ofthe country suddenly drops some 20 feet.
Tamarisk bushes and trees commence.
Khor Langeb19¼192One hundred and fifty to three hundredyards broad, banks 15 to 20 feet high. Banks on either side thicklyfringed with tamarisk trees; excellent grazing for camels. Arabsare restarting breeding camels in the vicinity of this khor; onedrove of nearly 300 young camels were seen. One day S.W. up thiskhor, Khor Odeib is said to enter it; all the khors alreadyenumerated, from Khor Areideb to Hedaweb inclusive, run into KhorOdeib. Half a day to the E. Khor Windi joins it.
Bir Tamashnauer1½193½One and a quarter miles up this khor isthe well; 25 feet deep, 3 feet diameter; water plentiful, but verysmelly and brackish. Arabs state that at present there are no wellsopen further up the khor; lower down are more wells and a fewpools.
Returning ¾ mile down the khor, adirection N. by E. is taken; several small tributary khors arecrossed, and then ground ascends gently and becomes stony.
The next 45 miles is known as the WadiOssir. J. Adarabab and Shaba on the E., and a series of ranges ofhills on the W. form the sides, 8 to 10 miles apart. These hillsform a funnel through which the wind blows steadily during thewinter months; sand storms very frequent.
J. Karamriba4½198Two black stony hills, 200 feet high; ½mile to W.
Eilogwa3201In the hills to the E., 3 to 4 miles fromthe track, are said to be rock cisterns with water; supplysaid to last from rains to rains.
Khor Ossir5206Flowing S.W. Runs into Khor Langeb.
El Fogani2½208½The same khor is recrossed, flowing S.E.Good grazing along and in this khor.
Direction N.N.E. Ground still risinggently; sandy, with tamarisks bushes and samr trees, very stunted,4 to 5 feet high. Some marakh and araag trees. Occasional belts ofstony ground.
Watershed16224½Top of the watershed is reached; ½ mileto W. is a low stony mound, 50 feet. Ground now falls from J. Shabarange towards the western hills.
Khor Shenkerat5229½Three to four miles to E.; in the hillsare said to be rock cisterns. The old telegraphmaintenance post is under the hills. Ground now becomes very stony,falling towards the W. and N.; in the shallow depression betweenthe flat spurs are Abyssinian aloes. Three miles on ground becomesmore sandy, and samr, marakh, and some laurel-like bushes arepassed through, becoming thicker as the khor is approached.
Khor Ossir El Tahtani9238½Fifty to one hundred yards broad, 5 feetbanks; flows N.E. The range of hills on the E. now terminates. Asandy plain is now crossed; scattered samr, etc.
J. Meiz5243½A low conical hill is passed close to thetrack to the E. 3 to 4 miles to the W. in the range of hills Arabspoint out J. Maiz, where water is said to beplentiful.
For 2 miles stony ground, then sandyagain; track passes through several groups of low detached hills.At 254½ miles ground becomes more cut up with khors, and graduallyascends and becomes very stony; the last mile into Khor Siterab isa stony defile; going very bad and in single file. A sharp ascentinto the khor.
Khor Sitarab16½260A rocky khor 20 to 50 yards wide; boundedby hills 40 to 60 feet high on either side. In the bed of the khorare great blocks of granite, through the interstices of whichpercolates water, which collects in the clay bed of the khor andforms small pools at close intervals all down the khor, averaging15 to 20 feet long, 2 to 4 feet broad, and 6 inches deep. Watervery brackish, osher bushes, a few tamarisks, shush grass and reedsgrow in the bed of the khor.
From the khor a well defined track runsall the way to Suakin. For 4 miles ground is very stony and broken;few sammur trees.
Khor Alifeyeit4264Two hundred yards broad, 10 feet banks,sandy bed. Ground now becomes sandy, and trees thicker; samr,araag, heglig, labakh and tundub trees. Gow grass during and afterrains; good sheep grazing ground.
Khors Sedayat, Ashat, Erim,and Shadat5269These four khors areall crossed in 1½ miles; no defined tracks; trees and bush in bedand alongside the khors. A few miles eastwards these khors open outinto the plain. For the next 3½ miles ground is stony.
1½270½
Khor Issi or Issei1½272Fifty yards broad, 2 feet banks.
Khor Sarobai2274No defined tracks; sandy; trees andbush.
Khor Wintri4¼278¼A point of crossing; this khor hascommenced to divide up into branches.
Four miles on J. Gumberit is passed 1mile to the W. Country more open; eastward a clear view down to thesea.
Khor Gwob10¾289One hundred to twohundred broad, shallow, no defined banks. Ground descends gently,and on reaching the ridge, ¾ mile distant, the town of Suakin comesin sight. Trees become fewer and bushes lower.
Suakin8297

9.—TOKAR to KASSALA, viâ KHOR BARAKA.