By Lieutenant-Colonel Sparkes, March, 1903.
| Place. | Miles. | Description. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter-mediate. | Total. | ||
| Kossinga | — | — | |
| Khor Lutu | 3 | 3 | Cross Khor Lutu, now dry, but for pools.Direction S.W. Going good. |
| 8 | 11 | Small pool—reported dry inMarch. | |
| River Ragaa | 5 | 16 | Good going all way to river, which ishere 100 to 150 yards broad, 15 feet banks—now small stream 2 feetdeep. It later on joins River Boru, and finally, after junctionwith it, the Bahr El Arab. J. Dandu, rocky hill about 300 feethigh, lies 2 or 3 miles to S. |
| Ragaa | 10 | 26 | Chief town of Sultan Musa Hamed, theFaroge chief, well situated on rising ground. River Ragaa flows atfoot. Good going all way from Kossinga over slightly undulatingground, with occasional rocky excrescences, not big enough to becalled hills, but big enough to notice in this dead flatcountry. |
| Membera | 7 | 33 | From Ragaa track lies W.N.W., and isgood. Scattered villages, called Membera. Sheikhs Futu andAdam. |
| Khor Rakib El Gamal | 8 | 41 | Small well, always gives water, now (17thFeb.) pool with ample water, but drying up fast. |
| Khor Ronda | 6½ | 47½ | Fair going through bush and scrub,crossing two dry khors and passing a pool with water 4 miles fromRakib El Gamal. |
| Khor Metemma | 3 | 50½ | Always water. |
| River Boru | 11 | 61½ | Good going through many Lulu trees toriver and village of Boru, Sheikh Futer. About largest tree yetseen in Bahr El Ghazal—some sort of acacia—in centre of village,near Sheikh’s house. River is 1¼ mile from village, very similar toRagaa, and formidable obstacle in rains. |
| 11 | 72½ | Fair going, passing through two villagesto pool where there is always water. Now marching almost N. throughvery hilly country, gravelly soil and track like a switchback.Chain of tree-covered hill on W., called Jebel I, and on E. calledJebel Yarkar. | |
| Jebel I | 5½ | 78 | Pool, always water at foot of JebelI. |
| Bashum | 12 | 90 | Fair going over up and down country,occasionally cut by elephant tracks, to village of Sheikh Bashum.People: Kreich and Faroge, under Sultan Musa. This is N. limit ofMusa’s people. Jebel Umbelanda lies 5 or 6 miles to W. |
| Khor Dikki | 5 | 95 | Track lies through Umbelanda range.Direction N.N.W. Always water in Khor Dikki. |
| Khor Monio | 6 | 101 | Always water. |
| River Shaliko | 6 | 107 | Always water. Nearly 100 yards across;shelving banks. Runs into Bahr El Arab. Very pretty spot. |
| Khor Dimkano | 4 | 111 | Track now lies W. of N.W. Always water atDimkano, but “fly” very bad indeed. |
| River Siri | 9 | 120 | Sandy bed, 80 to 90 yards wide; banks 10to 12 feet. Water always obtainable by scratching hole in sand.Runs into Bahr El Arab. |
| Khor Bapa | 5 | 125 | Rocky khor; always water in pools. |
| Jebel Paya | 6 | 131 | Jebel Paya lies to E. of track; otherhills on all sides. Good going, but much up and down. |
| River Rikki | 4 | 135 | Similar to Siri, but always open water,and banks very steep. Track now N. of N.W. |
| Khor Vongo | 7 | 142 | Always water. |
| Kafikingi | 8 | 150 | Village of Sultan Ibrahim Murad (Kreich).200 to 250 huts; scattered, and somewhat dilapidated. Small stream½ mile from village, always holds water and fish. Last 15 milesabout N.W. |
| River Adda | 10 | 160 | Track now to N.N.E. Good going throughthick wood along main road to Kalaka. River Adda 60 to 80 yardswide, banks 10 to 12 feet; stream running E., now but littlewater. |
| 11 | 171 | Follow Kalaka road for 11 miles, alongvalley of Adda, then cross river and strike slightly W. of N.,leaving all signs of a track, as old Hofrat El Nahas road isentirely obliterated, and going bad and difficult. | |
| Khor Gugu | 2½ | 173½ | Across Adda plain to Khor Gugu, wherealways water. |
| Jebel Teni | 7½ | 181 | An old well at foot of jebel, but atpresent choked and useless. |
| Khor Unwolo | 8 | 189 | Dry khor. Track now runs N.N.W. |
| Kafrmoya | 6 | 195 | Large pool now (28th Feb.); ample water.Many rhino about here. |
| River Umbelacha (Bahr ElFertit) | 4 | 199 | Through sites of long abandoned villagesto River Umbelacha; guides, &c., only know it by this name.River runs E., but little water at present; but fine stream whenfull, 80 to 100 yards broad, 10 to 12 feet banks; bed alternaterock and sand. Seventy to 80 miles to E., this river joins RiverAdda, the two forming Bahr El Arab. |
| Hofrat El Nahas | 1 | 200 | Copper mines of Hofrat El Nahas lie 1mile to S. of river, consist of number of shallow pits covering ½mile square. Whole country round absolutely deserted, and no peoplehave lived here since first rising of Mahdism, when Ibrahim Muradand his people—the former inhabitants—went to Kafikingi, which isnow nearest village. |
61.—RAGAA to DEIM ZUBEIR.
By Colonel Sparkes, C.M.G., March, 1903.
Roads.Roads everywhere fair, except between River Adda and Hofrat El Nahas, where no track at all, and in parts between Ragaa and Deim Zubeir which require clearing of undergrowth and bush. This is now being done.
Game.Game is plentiful near rivers and khors still holding water. No elephants seen, but they must be very numerous in rains, from many tracks which cut up roads in parts.
Trade goods.Cloth and clothing asked for everywhere. Hard cash taken at Kossinga and Ragaa.
Water.In dry season ample water to be found at no greater distance apart than 21 miles.
Rivers and khors.In rains the many rivers and khors would take a lot of time and trouble to cross, and a Berthon boat would be indispensable.
Camps, &c.Fair camping grounds found almost everywhere and wood always.