As far as Zereiga, by Colonel the Hon. M. G. Talbot, R.E., December, 1901; remainder by Captain W. Lloyd, the Scottish Rifles, March, 1901.

Place.Miles.Description.
Inter-mediate.Total.
Shat Wells——The road bears nearly S.W., well markedand nearly straight, crossing several sandy ridges. Easy ascentsand descents. The only “Id” passed is Abu Shareima, where there isa natural pool of little depth and quite dry. About 1 mile to theN. is a new Shanabla village.
Goz Um Sibila5½5½Goz Um Sibila is crossed. It does notseem more remarkable than the other ridges, but the name is wellknown.
Zereiga Wells5½11Many wells, 15 to 20 feet deep, goodwater. J. Bachi just visible in the evening from highest mound nearwells. Water supply diminishes in summer. Water stands here afterheavy rain, when mosquitoes are very bad.
The country becomes slightly undulating,good well-marked track, red sand, a few hashab trees about, butcountry generally open; little shade.
Amara2839Remains of about 30 old wells. Formerly aBaza village.
Um Ged½39½Ditto; but remains of more wells. This isa well-known halting place for convoys from Ageila, as there is alittle shade.
Road divides13½53The southern track goes to Ageila, saidto be “one day”; the other turns due W., crossing the sandy ridgethat has collected N. of J. Kon. There is a good deal of bushabout.
J. Kon1½54½A rocky ridge running nearly N. and S., ¾mile long, and rising about 300 feet above the plain. A littlewater on the mountain, and many old wells on the W. side near thetrack. These are said to have formerly given plenty of water.
Hella Kon155½A small Gowama village. Water from J.Kon.
Alleiga3½59A small Baza village. No well; water fromBint Joda.
Id Adam362Remains of eight old wells; said to havebeen 80 feet deep.
Bint Joda Wells365Twenty wells, 85 feet deep, not muchwater in them. Five more being opened. There was formerly muchcultivation about.
The village is ¾ mile to the E. Peopleare Baza and Gowama, and own many gum gardens.
The country continues slightlyundulating, covered with hashab bush, but the latter is never verythick near the road.
Um Bilbil166Old wells. Gowama. Formerly muchcultivation.
Gogran167Ditto.
Elton3½70½Ditto.
Fula Masuda171½Thirty yards in diameter, 2 feet deep,now dry.
Rabeisab Wells172½Now fallen in.
Rabeisab2¾75¼Gowama village of thirty tukls, waterfrom Wad Kasim.
Wad Kasim2½77¾Twelve wells open, 70 feet deep. Littlewater; it took an hour to fill 12 zigs, working four wells at thetime. The wells and cultivation belong to the Messadab tribe.
Um Butran1¾79½Deserted Gowama village.
Wad Delu3¼82¾Old wells. Gowama. Much cultivationformerly.
Group of old wells3½86¼About thirty. Guide did not know theirname.
Sayala7½93¾Very small Gowama village. Sheikh AhmedOmar (lives at Taiara). Two very bad wells. Signs of formercultivation now become less, and the hashab trees increase, untilnear Taiara the bush is in places thick enough to interfere withtraffic.
Taiara24½118¼A large village, with good wells andmarket. Head quarters of a District. Many merchants, who buy gumwith grain and cotton stuffs. It was once a large place, but inJanuary, 1900, had not more than ten tukls. It is however growingvery rapidly. Sheikh Ahmed Omar, Gowama Homran, and Sheikh MohammedEl Mahir, Gowama Gemeiia, are the two principal sheikhs.
For the next 18 miles the track, which iswell defined, crosses a series of ridges of red sand. These runfrom N. to. S., and, though never very steep, delay trotting camelsand disturb the loads of transport animals. They are Goz Taiara,immediately W. of the town, Goz Um Ageiga, Goz Benit Ranim, GozMultut, Goz Amarik Sinein.
Amarik6124¼Village on side of last named hill. Nextcomes Goz Amarik El Fungara and then Goz Bartai.
Bartai3¼127½A small village on the W. of thelast-named hill.
Goz Abd El Azim, Goz Gaabr.
Fula Gaabr3130½There are two natural ponds, one to theN. and one to the S. of the road. They are usually dry by November.Goz Boli, at the foot of which is a pool called Um Butab; Goz UmHemeira, at the foot of which is a small pond of the same name. GozFiki Gelalat El Din, a mile beyond which is a pool about 35 yardsin diameter called Fula Magbus; dry in October.
Gafil4½135A small village on the east side of theGoz El Hagiz El Ashgar, which forms the western boundary of theGowama country. Water from a bad well, and from Fula Magbus.
The track now enters more level country,but khors are crossed in many places, and the going is very bad inthe rains.
J. Kao4139Is left to the N. of the road. The hashabtree becomes rare, but in places the bush is dense though theactual track is clear enough. A few tebeldis.
J. Deigo9148On the north of the track. There are twofulas, one S. and one W. Both dry up by November as a rule.
Deigo1¾149¾A small village. Water from the abovefulas and from El Obeid. The road from El Rahad comes in here.
El Obeid6½156¼

75.—SHAWAL to GEDID viâ FACHI SHOYA and EL ALOB, thence viâ DAR EL AHAMDA to TAGALE.

By Captain H. H. S. Morant, the Durham L.I., 1901, from Personal Observation as far as Dar El Ahamda, Remainder from Native Sources (February, 1901).

Place.Miles.Description.
Inter-mediate.Total.
Shawal——Is on the right bank,and nearly directly opposite to H. Sheikh Bordein, a small Sudanesewood-cutting settlement (1901) on left bank. From the latter a goodtrack along left bank, through thick bush for first mile or two,leads to Fachi Shoya, which is a flourishing village and theresidence of Sheikh Gubara, head Sheikh of the Shankhab tribe.There are also some Greeks here, agents of Khartoum merchants, forthe purchase of gum.
Fachi Shoya1212
(From here there is an alternative andrather shorter route to Gedid viâ Bellali 17 miles, AbuAadel 21½ miles, and Menauel 29 miles).
The track still continues within a mileor less of the river, which is accessible almost anywhere. Thereare many Arab encampments along the river, rather more than a mileinland.
El Hasai416Shankhab, dry weathervillage on river bank. El Alob, a long sandy “Goz” or hill ispassed about half a mile to the E., and a little further on thevillages of the same name are reached. The route to Gedid now leadsW.S.W., and immediately after passing the rain village (about 100tukls) of El Alob, the numerous sandy ridges so typical of S.E.Kordofan commence.
El Alob5½21½
Galet930½The name of the wells(not visited) and hill passed about ¾ mile to the N. of the road.About ½ a mile before reaching the wells, the rain village ofSalogi, consisting of about 40 tukls, is passed on the top of ahill. There were eight wells in use (February, 1901); waterapparently plentiful about 12 feet below the surface.
Salogi2½33
Gamas2½35½About 30 tukls. Four wells about 18 feetdeep, but only giving a scanty supply of muddy water.
Um Hagar3½39Passed about 1 mile to S. of road. It ison the main road from Goz Abu Guma to Gedid, which joins in about 1mile further on. There are four wells about 12 feet deep. Waterfairly plentiful. These are the westernmost Shankhab wells.
Menauel544Rain village; 20tukls about ¾ mile N. of track. Wells dry. Main road to Gedid (11miles) goes direct, but if water is required, must go about 2 milesW. to Um Beiru where there are about 60 wells 15 feet deep. Waterplentiful, good shade.
Um Beiru2½46½
Gedid9½56Lies in a basin surrounded on three sidesby low sandy ridges, on which are permanent villages. There arealso several temporary encampments of Arabs who come to live nearthe wells in dry season. In the rains water stands in large poolsin this basin, and in the dry weather there are many wells about 10feet deep with plenty of water. It is the headquarters of theGimma, and is a comparatively large gum centre; there are severalGreek traders living here (February, 1901). Some of the best gumcountry in Kordofan lies westwards between here and Ageila. Fromhere to Dar El Ahamda there are two roads, that viâ Meikabeing the longer; but the greatest distance without water is only17 miles, whereas by the direct road there is no water for nearly30 miles. Gedid is now (1904) the Head Quarters of a District.
Goz Um Tibeir1½57½The latter road runsdue S. viâ Goz Um Tibeir, where are several villageswatering from Gedid, after which no inhabitants are met, exceptperhaps a few gum pickers at Makheita, until Dar El Ahamda isreached.
Makheita1067½
Wad Mahmud572½There is an ‘id’ here, but the wells aredry very early in the year. This was the site of Abd El Rahim AbuDugal’s deim, from which he raided Dar El Ahamda in the summer of1899.
Khor Senitai3½76Said to be boundary between the Gimma andDar El Ahamda. There is very dense kittr bush about here, though itdoes not interfere much with travelling.
Um Wabar278The country here becomes more open and isstudded with small kurmet bushes.
Um Subagha8½86½Four wells, 20 feet deep, little water.Road from Goz Abu Guma viâ Id El Gim (9 miles) joins inhere. This is the usual route to Goz Abu Guma taken by people fromTagale and Southern Kordofan.
Alternative route——The alternativeroute from Gedid viâ Goz El Homara passes at first throughthickish kittr bush, and then through more open country to Meika(10½ miles). The site of the Khalifa’s deim, defeat, and death(1899) lies a little to the W. of the direct road to Meika, and isreached viâ Rahad Asheishat, which contains water for sometime after the rains (in March, 1901, it had still a little veryfoul water in it). People are said to collect here during therains.
Rahad Asheishat6½62½
Um Debreikat2½65The site of the battle is close by on theE. of the road, and the position of the deim which was alongsidethe road is still recognisable from the stumps of the trees cutdown.
There is also a large pool on S. of road,about 150 yards by 80 yards, and there are the remains of a gooddeal of recent dukhn cultivation in the vicinity.
Meika368Five groups of wells used by the Gimmaand a few of the Selim Baggara. Water plentiful about 12 feetdown.
From here the road runs S. to Goz ElHomara (4 miles), the cultivating ground of the Selim and a few ofthe Gimma Arabs, and thence to Id El Gim (17 miles) in Dar ElAhamda, joining the direct road from Gedid at Um Subagha (portionGoz El Homara to Id El Gim was not traversed).
Um Subagha2795From here the road passes through verydense kittr bush, which impedes the rate of travellingconsiderably.
Mafri7102A small village; water supply from IdTefangerun.
Id Tefangerun2½104½In the Khor Ardeiba, which is said tooriginate in the Tagale mountains, and to flow S.E. to the Nile. Init are nearly all the wells in Dar El Ahamda, none of whichhowever, except those of El Akaf, can be relied on to contain muchwater towards the end of the dry season.
The Khor Ardeiba is not, as a matter offact, known by the same name for more than a mile or two, as ittakes the name of each successive district through which it passes.It has a shallow ill-defined bed, but is traceable by the number ofheglig and other green trees which grow in it.
Dura3½108The road follows thekhor and passes wells at Um Desis and at Dura, a village (no well)from which J. Um Talha is visible; a track branches off southwardsthrough very dense kadad bush, and 1¾ miles on joins another trackfrom Gamelein (1¼ miles), which is the usual starting point forTagale, and where there are several wells. The track then leadsS.W. across a cotton soil plain thickly covered with bush, chieflytalh and kittr, to J. Um Talha, one of the Tagale group ofmountains under Mek Geili Adam. It is inhabited by Nubas, and hasseveral wells. See [route No.98.]
Gamelein1½109½
J. Um Talha (Tagale)50½160
The distance from Gamelein to Um Talha isonly very roughly estimated, and cannot be relied on.

76.—GOZ ABU GUMA to DAR EL AHAMDA.

By Captain H. H. S. Morant, March, 1901.

Place.Miles.Description.
Inter-mediate.Total.
Goz Abu Guma——Goz Abu Guma,properly Zeinuba, is on right bank of White Nile and is the headquarters of a District. There is a post and telegraph office and afair suk. In good years plenty of grain can be bought here. At lowNile in order to cross to left bank, a branch of the river iscrossed by a ford to two islands, thence there is a ferry to W.bank, where there are several gum depôts. The road from Dueimviâ El Alob passes here and follows the river southwardsto Kaka and Kodok. A much used road also leads to Gedidviâ Um Hagàr (see [Route No.9]) 20 miles, thence viâ Taiara to El Obeid.
West bank1½1½
El Koru3½5The road to Dar ElAhamda leads S.W. over the usual more or less undulating and openbush covered country to El Koru; a largish village said to havewells (not seen). Soon after leaving this a road from the rivercoming from N.E. joins in and 3 miles further on another trackbranches off S.W. to Um Adda (6 miles) where there are severalwells.
3½8½
Id Teheima1¼9¾The track followedled S. to Id Teheima, several fair wells and villages, thence downa very bare valley to Id Um Zaaf situated in the middle of aperfectly open level grassy basin, which looks as if it might beswampy in the rains. Several wells or holes; water plentiful, notmore than 5 feet down.
Id Um Zaaf615¾
Um Zaaf1¼17Goz Um Zaaf with a village on the top ofit. Near the S. end of the goz there is another well, but withlittle water. A road runs from here eastwards to the river (12miles?), and another westwards viâ Waar (8 miles) to Gedid(24 miles).
Suda7½24½Road followed runs S.W. through a gooddeal of kittr and gum bush to Suda, which is a small villageperched on the usual Goz.
There are two lots of wells and water iscomparatively plentiful. Good shade. There are several othervillages near. Here the road from Um Adda, another from Um Hagàrviâ Waar, a third from Gedid viâ Um Debreikat,and a fourth from Meika unite. A path also leads S.E. to Jebelein(25 miles) viâ Andaraba (no water en route).
Um Huta1½26Continuing S. theroad passes a village named Um Huta to the W. (no water), and latercrosses Goz El Shubai, the highest hill in this part of thecountry. There is an “id” at its S.E. end, but it had no water(March, 1901).
Goz El Shubai531
Here a track branches off eastwards to GozEl Homara, and about 2 miles further on another from El Homara runseastwards to Um Gereib.
Um Sir637At Um Sir (Selim) there were severalwells and plenty of water in March, 1901, but in the same month,1902, there was said to be very little.
There were also the remains of a gooddeal of cultivation about.
A road leads from El Homara viâthese wells to Jebelein (about 18 miles).
Mit El Ghaneis138Small cultivation village.
Goz El Gharak240A slight elevation on which is dukhncultivation N. of track.
Rahad Waar3½43½A large natural rain tank, dry soon afterrains, but many Arabs congregate here whilst there is water.
Khor Talh3½47After passing through thick talh bush, ashallow khor, probably that known on the Gedid Um Subagha road asSenitai, is passed.
Um Fatma350A well known belt of thick kittr about amile in width, said to be N. boundary of Dar El Ahamda.
After this is passed country iscomparatively open.
Id Heidub1060Several wells; water not very plentiful(March, 1901).
Id Nagi363One or two wells, but very little water(March, 1901). Splendid shade.
El Gedul366Rather large village (for these parts);water from Id Nagi.
Soon after leaving El Gedul some verydense kadad, &c., bush is entered and continues to
Mageikha2½68½A small cultivation village.
Wad El Khot1½70Small village; water from Saneit. Densekittr bush which interferes with camels is now traversed.
Saneit272Small village residence of Sheikh AbdelRahman Taher, head Sheikh of Dar El Ahamda. Several wells in ashallow khor; fairly good supply of water. From here a road leadsS. to El Akaf (4½ miles), good wells, thence viâ Id Nemeid(wells 11½ miles) to the Nile, probably at Um Asherin, about 20miles beyond.
Gamelein2¼74¼The road leads up the khor to Gamelein,described in [Route 75,] and thence to J.Tagale.

77.—GOZ ABU GUMA to EL OBEID, viâ SHERKEILA AND RAHAD.

From a Report by Captain C. H. Leveson, 18th Hussars, November, 1903.