The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan: a compendium prepared by officers of the Sudan government, Vol. 2 (of 2)

by Sudan. Wizarat al-Naql wa-al-Muwasalat

Place.	Miles.		Description.
	Inter-mediate.	Total.
Nahud	—	—	The whole of the road runs through theHamar country.
Bokari	4	4	Leaving the suk in a north-westerlydirection the track runs through the Gowama village namedBokari.
Jebel El Kurma	4¼	8¼	Two hills W. of track; to the E. of thenorthernmost hill is the village of Shekaba, 80 huts.
Hella Wad Munfarih	2½	10¾	A small Hamarvillage, 30 to 40 huts. Track continues in same direction till theHamar village of Darglos is reached. The country between Nahud andthis village is open bush with some good trees for timber, but mostof the bush consists of gnarled and twisted ebony bushes of novalue. From here track trends more to W. till village Bakoda isreached. Range of hills, Jebel Barshom, to N.N.E. of lattervillage.
Darglos	6¾	17½
Bakoda	6½	24
El Gubba	10½	34½	Track now runs N. to Hella El Gubba withJebel Selako to E., and on to
Kinneir	2¼	36¾	Hella Kinneir, 10 huts.
Gemania	1½	38¼	Hella Gemania, 20 huts.
Abu Rasein	3	41¼	Hella Abu Rasein, 5 huts.
Hamdan Tumbel	5½	46½	Track runs N.N.E. to Hella Hamdan Tumbel,12 huts.
Gabra	7	53½	Track runs N. toHella Gabra (no wells exist), and Hella Zarzur, when track runsN.W. until Hella Um Bel is reached. J. Biraish to W. Two wellsgiving a fair amount of water, and many hellas draw their supplyfrom here.
Zarzur	2½	56
Um Bel	4½	60½
J. Um Bel	1½	62
Galusa	—	—	Track now runs N. to Hella Galusa, 20huts, and then on to
Foga	7¼	69¼	Foga. See [route 87.]

All villages between Nahud and Hamdan Tumbel procure their water from tebeldi trees. At Gabra and Zarzur water is procured from Um Bel. There is a certain amount of dukhn and melon cultivation near each village, but no other supplies excepting a few chickens.

No water between Nahud and Foga for any party marching, and not more than ten camels could be watered at Um Bel without depriving the inhabitants of their daily supply. This year (1901) owing to the drought there is no crop of water melons.

Country generally undulating and covered thick bush. Good track.

91.—FOGA to UM BADR.

By Major E. B. Wilkinson, December, 1901.

Foga.—¾ mile S.W. of the hill, now turned into a defensive post, are the wells. There are at present (1901) nine wells giving water, and the Arabs of the Hamar and Kaja tribes are opening more. I have taken accurate measurements of depths of wells, and the depth varies from 50 to 80 feet below the surface. Water is only found in very small quantities at present, no well being able to water more than 30 camels per diem.

In the rains the Arabs dig, and have dug for many years, shallow hollows which fill up and last them through the winter sufficient to water their flocks; but this year, owing to very scanty rainfall, these hollows are all dry.[31]

There are many villages in the neighbourhood, consisting of ten to fifty huts. Dukhn is cultivated, and the Hamar Arabs also keep many ostriches, which at this time of year are all plucked quite bare. The feathers are taken to Nahud, where there is a good market for them.

Place.	Miles.		Description.
	Inter-mediate.	Total.
Foga	—	—	Leaving Foga, trackbears N. to Hella Wad Guibara, consisting of about thirty huts(Hamar Arabs), and then track bears N.W. through bush on Jebel ElRimr. Good going through country falling for 3½ miles, when a khoris crossed; direction of drainage, N.E.
Wad Guibara	1½	1½
Jebel El Rimr	5½	7	Jebel El Rimr is reached; this is a rangeof hills running from S.W. to N.E.
Um Goz	6	13½	Track still continues through bush N.W.to Hella Um Goz, which consisted of a village of not more thanfifteen huts, but which has recently been burnt by the Furs sent bySultan Ali Dinar to punish the inhabitants, who are Kajawis. Fromhere an excellent view of the country can be obtained for manymiles.
Jebel Zeinat Rowaina	1½	15	Leaving Hella Um Goz, the track leads onto Jebel Zeinat Rowaina, but at 1½ miles I went through the bush.No track on Jebel Taradid, over country which is intersected withmany small water channels (now all dry), but which in the rainswould be impassable for animals. Surface, cotton soil with rank drygrass. Flow of water, N.N.E.
Jebel Taradid	7	22	Jebel Taradid, track runs N. through verybroken country, ranges of low hills to W. and E. for miles.
Khor Dormaia	4	26	Khor Dormaia of the Kajawis, and the WadiMelh of the Kababish and Hamar Arabs, I believe, but none of thelocal Arabs know the name Wadi Melh, and informed me it was far tothe N. This khor, 30 to 35 yards broad, takes its course from N.W.in the vicinity of J. El Ain, where there was water (December 4) inkhor. There are signs of a big flood coming down in the rains(banks well wooded); current I should say very rapid, and at timesimpassable, flows N.E., passes J. Habisa, and then bears N.
J. El Sad	3½	29½	From this point trackruns N.N.E. over undulating country, and at 3½ miles J. El Sad ispassed, small watercourse passed, and from here track runsN.E.
	2	31½
Wadi (?)	4	35½	At this point a large wadi is enteredbearing S.W., and the track leads down this N.E to
Um Badr	2½	38	Um Badr, which consists of a broad wadivarying in breadth up to 800 yards, which is enclosed on eitherside by hills, and along the bed of which many hundreds of wellsand waterholes have been dug in former times. Wells all filled inby rains; three wells were opened and 20 feet down no waterobtained, and no sign of water visible.
			In years when rain is plentiful, I wasinformed by Arabs, water is always obtainable at this depth.Appears to be an excellent place for camels.
			No sign of recent habitation; but onridges N.E. are the remains of the scene of the fight betweenDervishes and the Kababish belonging to Sheikh Saleh Gelta Kabashiin 1887.
			No signs of any caravans having passedrecently, and I am informed that none ever do come here owing tothere being no water.