| Place. | Miles. | Description. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inter-mediate. | Total. | |||
| El Getite | — | — | Marchfrom El Getite to junction of Khor Araf with Khor Barshoi(vide previous route report), then march for 2 miles N.W.up Khor Araf almost to its source; the khor narrows here and thepath is a little stony in places, then turn W. over a stony plainfor 2 miles, very fairly good going until the source of Khor ElAshob is reached. From this place may be sighted sources of KhorAraf and Khor Amboreb, which runs away apparently S.E. There wasplenty of grass and shade here. Leaving Khor El Ashob, which runsaway to the N.W., afterwards turning S.W. again to join KhorDerudeb, march S.W. to Khor Delai, 7½ miles distant; road stony,but good going on sheep tracks, the stones are not very thick, noris it rocky. Cross several khors en route, Khor Beida isone of them; there is a little grass in all of these. On reachingKhor Delai, after going a few yards down the khor the well isreached in the centre of the khor, recently cleaned out by theArabs, but there are none here now. The well is lined withwood. | |
| Khor Barshoi | 17 | 17 | ||
| Khor El Ashob | 4 | 21 | ||
| Khor Delai | 7½ | 28½ | ||
| Khor Beida | — | — | ||
| Bir Delai | — | 28½ | ||
| Depth to water | 3½feet. | |||
| Depth of water (very clean) | 10 „ | |||
| Circumference (approx.) | 7 „ | |||
| Goodcattle watering places round the well. Good shade. Some green grassin the khor. | ||||
| 5 | 33½ | Afterleaving Bir Delai, first march 5 miles along right bank of KhorDelai (looking towards mouth of khor), direction W., cross the khorat the point where it runs slightly N.W. to join Khor El Ashob,then 8 miles over stony, but very level plain, excellent going incattle tracks andsheep tracks S.W. to pool El Ashob in Khor El Ashob, 40 yards long,12 feet deep and 8 yards broad. Well filled up, 3 miles to N.W.;could be opened if necessary in khor under dom palm. | ||
| Pool El Ashob | 8 | 41½ | ||
| Khor Derudeb | 5 | 46½ | LeaveKhor El Ashob, crossing to right bank (looking towards mouth),going in a westerly direction 5 miles to Khor Derudeb, cross thiskhor. A little cotton soil on E. bank of Khor Derudeb, goingotherwise good, over light, stony, sandy soil, but no shade exceptat the khors. Then N.W. 10 miles further on to Khor Abu Sillem,coming from N. of J. Torbraa range; going good, grass in Khor AbuSillem, also shade. N.W. still 6 miles further to Khor Breitak,there I found two pools of rain-water, muddy, but sweet. They werein the khor and were about 40 yards long, 6 yards broad and 1 footdeep. About 5 miles of some of the best grazing I have seen in thecountry. The Sheikh said the water had been there 2 months andwould only last 9 days more, another Arab I asked said a monthmore. The Sheikh also pointed out the road to the N. to BirTendera; both he and my guides said half a day’s journey,i.e., 13 miles, easy road, and it looked good what I sawof it. Very good shade here. | |
| Khor Abu Sillem | 10 | 56½ | ||
| Khor Breitak | 6 | 62½ | ||
| Bir Tendera | 13 | 75½ | ||
| Sekotieb | 20 | 95½ | From Tendera, Adarama is 40miles (Arabs 2 days, loaded camels), road easy (there may be alittle cotton soil), some shade and grass at Bir Tendera, also someshade at Sekotieb (?), 20 miles (about) from Adarama. The well(Tendera) itself is large, always has water in it. | |
| Adarama | 20 | 115½ | This information, though Ihave seen the road as far as Khor Shedieb and corroborate it sofar, is hearsay, as I had not time to go there myself. Myinformants are my two guides, Sheikh Mohammed Isa and the MulazimAwal, of Slavery Department at Adarama, all of whom have beenthere, and many Arabs re water. | |
Note.—In the long grass (September) a large number of snakes exactly similar to the Indian cobra were met. I killed 4 on the march. The Hadendoa name for them is “kokwa” whilst the Ababda called them “Dugga.”
13.—UMBREGA (R. SETIT) TO SOFI (R. ATBARA).
By Captain H. H. S. Morant.—March, 1900.
N.B.—For description of route further east and notes on this road, vide [Route 125,] Appendix.
| Place. | Miles. | Description. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter-mediate. | Total. | ||
| Umbrega[9] | — | — | From here there is atolerably distinct track following the crest-line of the plateau,and the river is seen and approachable only occasionally, beingalways 1 to 4 miles on left. The descents to Meshras Abedo andGodema are passed, and then the burial ground and khor of TorabKaruf, further on the district of Sheikh Ageil and Meshra ElZuhani. From Sheikh Ageil J. Esir and Lukdi are both visible N.N.W.and S.S.W. respectively, latter being on boundary of Hamranstowards Abyssinia. |
| Abedo | 3¾ | 3¾ | |
| Godema | ¾ | 4½ | |
| K. Turab Karuf | 1¼ | 5¾ | |
| Sheikh Ageil | 4 | 9¾ | |
| El Zuhani | 1½ | 11¼ | |
| Gat Wad El Hag | 6½ | 17¾ | Leaving this, thepath passes clearings of former cultivation, and after 3 miles ofthick bush, Gat Wad El Hag. Meshra El Hagar El Zuruk is reached,and after following bed of river for ½ a mile, plateau is regained,and Gira is next Meshra. On left bank are cliffs, on which aresituated the ruins of the old Egyptian Fort. K. Lobetir and K. WadHeleiwa being crossed, village of latter name, which is the soleexisting one of Hamrans at present time, is reached. From hereSetit is crossed, and later R. Atbara and village of Sofi isreached. |
| El Hagar El Zuruk | 1¾ | 19½ | |
| Gira | 10½ | 30 | |
| K. Lobetir | 6 | 36 | |
| K. Wad Heleiwa | 2 | 38 | |
| Setit | 1¼ | 39¼ | |
| Atbara | 7½ | 46¾ | |
| Sofi | ¾ | 47½ | Little game was seen between Umbrega andSofi. |
[1]Camel transport.
[2]For further details regarding the water supply along this route vide “Report on the Nile and country between Dongola, &c.,” 1898.
[3]Meaning “red stone” in Hadendoa.
[4]“Black stone” in Hadendoa.