Place.Miles.Description.
Inter-mediate.Total.
El Obeid55After leaving El Obeid in a southerlydirection, road divides, going S. to Mereikab and S.S.W. to ElAtshan.
Road continues in S.S.W. direction, andthorn bush does not impede travelling; going generally good.
El Atshan1722El Atshan wells are reached, 22 milesfrom El Obeid; quite dry—20.4.03.
Leaving El Atshan, road divides S.S.E. toKadero, S.W. to El Hamadi; country generally open bush and goodgoing. Two khors with fine timber are crossed.
El Hamadi1840El Hamadi is reached 18 miles from ElAtshan. On 20.4.03 there was a little water in shallow wells inkhor; it took about 2 hours to get two burmas. On 5.6.03 there wasno water.
El Nebag747Leaving El Hamadi,road goes S.W.; at first a good deal of thorn bush, till passing ElNebag, which is a depression with many magnificent trees and inwhich there is water in the rains. After passing El Nebag the roadopens out, and the going is good and hard. After travelling 18miles from El Hamadi, El Hagiz, a shallow khor with some goodshade, is reached. Half a mile before reaching El Hagiz road isjoined by road from Um (Girban) Durban.
Khor El Haigiz1158
Sungikai, H. Gaghgagh1270Road continues in a S.W. direction tillSungikai is reached. The hella is 2 miles from the wells. Unlimitedwater.

N.B.—On El Obeid, Hamadi Sungikai road, except in rains, there is very little shade, except at El Atshan, Hamadi, El Nebag and Umhagiz.

104.—DILLING to EL OBEID, viâ SUNGIKAI, UM DURBAN and UM RAMAD.

By Deputy Inspector C. E. Lyall, June 1903 and March, 1904.

Place.Miles.Description.
Inter-mediate.Total.
Dilling (Nuba)——The road from Dillingto Sungikai soon after passing Jebel Dilling separates from theDilling-Nila road and keeps W. of it. The general direction isN.E., the road is good going and fairly free from thorns. There area few patches of black cotton soil; after 10 miles the road crossesthe Khor Abu Habl,[33] and continues N.E. till Hellet Gad elKerim is reached.
Gad El Kerim (Hawazma)1616
Sungikai (Zeriba El Aguz)622The inhabitants of this village drinkfrom the wells at Nila, except during the rains, when they drinkfrom pools in Khor Abu Habl. The road keeps up on the rising ground, passingnumerous villages till the largest village in the immediateneighbourhood of Sungikai, Zeriba el Aguz, is reached.
Sungikai (H. Gaghgagh)224Leaving this village the road fromSungikai after being joined by roads from the numerous surroundingvillages continues in a N.E. direction till El Hagiz is reached, ½mile after passing which the road divides N.N.E. to Um Durban. Theroad, after passing to the W. of Zeriba el Aguz, goes H. Gaghgaghand thence to El Hagiz, where it divides W. to Um Durban and E. toEl Hamadi.
Um Durban (Kenana)2448The road is at first very winding with agood deal of shok, after about 6 miles it opens out, and continuesfair till Um Durban is reached; where on 5.6.03, there was a littlewater from wells in khor; in March 1904, the water had driedup.
Leaving Um Durban the road goes N.E.,after about 6 miles Hellet Kafawa is passed some 4 miles to the W.of the road.
Um Ramad (Bederia)3078The road continues in the same directionN.E., the going being uniformly good and free from shok, except ina few depressions and khors till after some 24 miles, when the soilbecomes heavy red sand, which continues till Um Ramad is reached.At this village there are numerous shallow wells and water holes,but they were quite dry on 6.6.03, but plenty of water 1.5.04. Thepeople drink from Abu Haraz and Obeid. The road from Um Durbanjoins the Abu Haraz road ½ mile from Um Ramad.
After passing Um Ramad the road broadensout into a track about 15 feet wide, and continues in a N.E.direction till El Obeid is reached.
El Gika583Five miles after leaving Um Ramad, thefirst El Gika village is passed ½ mile to the left of the road.Plenty of water 1.5.04.
El Obeid1194There are five villages at El Gika, eachabout a mile from the other; the road to El Obeid from El Gika runsparallel to the Abu Haraz-El Obeid road until it joins it about 3miles from El Obeid. On this road from Sungikai there is verylittle shade, except at the villages.

105.—ROUTES IN DAR NUBA—SOUTHERN KORDOFAN.

By Captain C. H. Leveson, 18th (P.W.) Hussars, December, 1903-March, 1904.

(i.) Jebel Tendik to Lukka.

Place.Miles.Description.
Inter-mediate.Total.
Tendik——Large Nuba village of 1,200people. Most of the village is built in a hollow about 600 feet upthe jebel and on a ridge above it. Good water up on the mountain,also good below, where there is a garrison of half company 12thSudanese. Quiet, peaceable people; much cultivation; sheep andgoats, but not many cattle. A big khor runs along E. and S. ofjebel, through dense deleib palms. The road runs nearly due S., andcrosses the big khor at 2 miles—re-crossing it again almost atonce.
—5A jebelabout 30 feet high on W. Cross a ridge and a khor a mile furtheron. All good going over gravel.
16
17
18Crossanother khor, when road runs between parallel ridges of stony hillsfor 2¼ miles, when the Khor Sesaban is reached.
2¼10¼
J. Odam1¼11½A small hill, 400 feet onright. Cross Khor Ardeib, 8 feet deep.
Khor Ardeib1½13
For 5½ miles there is a rangeof low hills on right of road and for the next 5½ a low range onleft of road.
1124Cross a khor.
Khor Nueila125A milefurther on, and the Khor Nueila is reached. The main channel about15 feet deep and 30 yards wide. Beyond is a swampy track 600 yardsacross, with pools of water (December, 1903), biggest 100 yardslong and 3 feet deep. Good clear water. Much game; tracks of lionand leopard. Hartebeeste and wart-hog seen. Elephants live abouthere in rains. After crossing swamp, track leads up on to higherground, crossing a small khor, and at 1½ miles and further anotherkhor.
1½26½
1½28
½28½A small hill on right.
½29Cross khor.
½29½A hill on right, cross theKhor Id El Simoa, 6 feet deep, 30 yards wide.
1¼30¾Small hill on right.
131¾Cross Khor Jogham, 6 feetdeep, 20 yards wide.
132¾Small hill, J. Gelabi, onright.
Khor Hash Hashi3¼36A little water still standingin marshy ground behind main channel, which is 12 yards broad and10 feet deep. Cross khor, and for 2½ miles there are low hills onleft of road.
J. Thaba440J. Thaba on right of road,cone-shaped hill, with bald, smooth top, about 70 feet. A goodlandmark.
Khor Um Idara343Khor Um Idara, plenty ofwater here now. Tracks of lion. As usual, swarms of guinea fowl.Main channel 20 yards wide, 8 feet deep.
3½46½Khor Um Aleik, shallow,broad, sandy khor.
J. Obni1¼47¾J. Obni, half a mile away onright of road.
¾48½Khor Dabdub—small.
J. Doga½49J. Doga, 1 mile away on rightof road—jagged top.
J. Lukka3¾52¾Road curves round to right ina wide sweep and enters valley at foot of mountain. (Described inKologi-Lukka road.)
(ii.) J. Lukka to J.Errio.
J. Lukka——Road leads N. out of valleyfor ½ mile, then curves to left along high ground on northern spursof J. Lukka. Good going over gravelly ridges; by making shortdetours to right, at khors, all dismounting may be avoided. Muchcultivation on right.
Khor Tuffa—6The Khor Tuffa 20 yardsbroad, 12 feet deep; must dismount here—quite dry. Road becomesstony after khor.
Errio28Village of Errio is reachedafter bending round sharp to left and crossing a “nek,” or “col.”Many cattle. Population, Kawahla Arabs crossed with Nubas.Population about 700, under Sheiks Badei Bakr and Abballa Adam. Norifles seen. Quiet people; do not raid. Plenty of dura.
Water plentiful but dirty.Best camp ½ mile beyond village to S.W., on Tira El Akhdarroad.
(iii.) Route J. Errioto J. Talodi, viâ Tosi and J. Meselli.
J. Errio——Road runs S.W. through thornbush over cotton soil. Open country both sides; alsocultivation.
05½Pass small hill onright.
38½Hillock ¼ mile away onleft.
½9Cross khor, 12 feet deep, 12yards broad.
Tosi½9½Tosi village of about 500Kawahla Arabs crossed with Nubas, under Sheikh El Fadl Didigair,lying at south end of small stony hill 400 or 500 feet high. Watersupply poor. Supplies poor.
4½14Road now passes between hillsand drops down about 100 feet over an “agaba,” and leads throughcotton soil for 1 mile to
Khor Kagala2¾16¾A broad shallow khor in thickbush. A hill about 300 feet high on right of crossing. Goodgoing.
K. El Kirki2¼19Khor El Kirki—small.
J. Meselli221J. Meselli—on right.
K. Um Sinin223Khor Um Sinin; forestland.
K. Joghan528Khor Joghan; forestland.
½28½Crosses ridge and drops downabout 100 feet to
Amuti1½30300 yards on left of roadseveral big pools of clear good water. Best watering place; betterthan Tosi and Talodi after February. Good going to
Um Dual5½35½A small hillock and (inJanuary, 1904) a pool of clear water 120 yards long, 40 yards wide,4 feet deep. No shade.
Cultivation by people ofTalodi. About 1½ or 2 miles south is an odd needle-shaped rock some200 feet high, visible for 20 miles round.
Road now leads through thickforest for 4 miles. Roan antelope seen.
439½Cotton soil and lightbush.
K. Abu Um Jamad140½The Khor Abd Um Jamad noobstacle in dry weather. Cultivation begins again.
Talodi (Tebeldia)343½The village of Tebeldia, atE.N.E. corner of Talodi, is passed. It lies a mile away in valleyto right.
Talodi (Felaita)144½Village of Felaita andbarracks of half company 12th Sudanese.
J. Talodi is a ruggedprecipitous mountain, about 1,300 feet high and 28 miles incircumference. On its eastern face is a valley running a short wayinto mountain (village of Felaita in opening), which is said tocommunicate by a rough path, known as “Darb El Haramia,” with acorresponding valley on the western face.
There are three villages, allnominally under the head sheikh, an old man called Sherif Wad AbuOmo:—
Tebeldia,population800,SheikhMamun.
Felaita,„2,200,„Abdalla Shamsham.
Ageira,„800,„Shanna Wad El Aris.
The last named village liessome 7 miles away to the S.W. of the mountain. The inhabitants aredescendants of freed and escaped slaves of the Homr. There is asmall colony of true Nubas at the south end of the mountain.
They used to be notorious fortheir success in raiding. They possess about 300 or 400 rifles.Cultivation insufficient for their own needs. Water supply poor.They begin to trade for grain in February with the Nubas of J.Moro, at Kororak.
Half company 12th Sudaneseand Mamuria at Felaita.
(iv.) J. Errio to J.Talodi, viâ Tira El Akhdar, Tira Mandi and Kindirma(February, 1904).
J. Errio—Road leads out S.W. for ½mile, then west and through cultivation. Good going.
2½2½A khor—rough brokenground.
1¾4¼A broad shallow kohr.
2¾7Khor 11 feet deep. Had todismount.
¼7¼Khor 10 feet deep. Dompalms.
3¾11Slight descent to deep broadkohr, travel along it for 400 yards, and then climb out.
½11½Beginning to ascend a ridgeamong rough rocky hills.
1¼12¾Track leads over a smoothgravelly plateau for 1 mile.
113¾Road descends to cultivation;rough stony going.
114¾Track leads sharp to rightdown rocky side of hill into a grassy valley about 3 mileslong.
½15¼Cross broad sandy khor, withrivulet a yard wide in centre (February, 1904). Water disappears amile further down. Dom palms.
Tira El Akhdar½15¾Good camping place undershady trees by stream. The Nuba village is situated on the hills tothe west of the valley, which is only ½ mile wide.
They possess few rifles, but many spears andclubs. Population about 1,200, under Meks
(1)Shega.
(2)Amiri.
(3)Atuira.
(4)El Gamal.
(5)Ti.
They are greatly feared andhated by surrounding Jebels, owing to their raids. They are trueNuban, and wear no clothing. They own a lot of cattle andgoats.
419¾The track, rough and stony,leads S. along the edge of Western hills of the valley, and turnsto the right (W.) over a slight rise, a “nek” or ridge, and runsthrough forest land. Going better. Gravel.
2½22¼Track turns slightly N., andpasses by a khor, banks 20 feet, breadth of all channels 100 yards,and then runs through thick forest. Good going.
729¼Crosses abroad sandy khor 50 to 90 yards wide, and runs along W. bank halfmile to Tiramandi camp. Village is two miles away to the S.W., on aspur of the hill.
Tiramandi½29¾
Mek Nuwai; population, 700Nubas. Very poor, and had been lately raided, very few cattle, butare clearing forest along W. bank of khor for cultivation. Norifles seen.
231¾Track leads S.W. from camp,one mile to village, and then passes over low spur below villageround S. of hill, direction S.W. Rough and stony, much cut up bysmall khors.
233¾Gold is found here in therainy season, the rain displacing rocks and stones on the ridge tothe N. side of the road. The people search for it among the debris.They state that by hard work a man can get sufficient to pay histribute (apparently not worth working).
1¼35Road crosses a broad khor,and the hills on right of road trend away to the N.W.
Many small khors are crossed.Road bends round Southern end of a ridge at right angle toroad.
439Road crosses a broad sandykhor. Spur from J. Kindirma runs down on right to the khor. Aftercrossing, road bends round to left (S.), along Eastern face ofKindirma.
Kindirma1¾40¾A valley in the Eastern faceof a mountain down which a stream forms a succession of waterfallsand deep pools. 20 to 30 feet across, and six feet deep. A roughpath leads up along the waterfall to the top of the ridge, some 400or 500 feet, and on either side the mountain rises nearly sheer toa height of 110 feet. The Nubas live on top of the right orNorthern side, and their village is approached by a precipitouspath winding up the face of the cliff, and at times disappearing inclefts in the rocks, reappearing again 10 feet higher up.
On reaching the top of theridge one finds oneself in a valley formed by the mountains whichcurve back outwards from either side of the waterfall and uniteagain three miles from the ridge, forming a bowl-shaped hollow, thestream flows along the bottom of this basin and falls over theridge to the level of the main road outside Kindirma.
The Mek’s name is Gandal. Thepopulation is about 800 or 1,000. They have about 20 or 30 rifles.Lots of cultivation, both in the valley, inside the mountain, anddown by the road below, but few cattle. Have suffered a good dealfrom raids.
Road leads due S. throughthick bush towards small jebel, in direction of E. corner ofTalodi. Good going.
141¾Light forest.
243¾Cross broad sandy khor.
J. Mavlul245¾A smalljebel, known as J. Mavlul, about a mile long, is passed. Close toroad on left a small village on the N.E. spur of Talodi. Good viewof J. Eliri and all surrounding country.
6¼52
Talodi1¼53¼Corner of main jebel andvillage of Tebeldia on right in valley.
2¼55½Felaita village entrance tovalley. Mamuria and military post. Wells and water three feet fromsurface (February, 1904).
(v.) J. Talodi to J. Eliri.
The track leads straight outfrom the village of Felaita towards the centre of J. Eliri. Firstthree miles good going through light bush.
33Bush gets thicker. Cottonsoil, bad going.
A hillock4½7½A small hill on the left ispassed.
J. Abu Ghor310½Track leads S.E. round JebelAbu Ghor, a small hill; better going.
4¼14¾Thick bamboo clumpsobstructing track for four miles.
721¾Bad going. Cotton soil.
1½23¼Good going. Light bush.
Tebeldia wells1¼24½Two small wells in depressionin the ground, water two feet from surface, only sufficient for adozen camels. Takes an hour to fill again.
El Egheibish3½28A string of five or sixwells; sufficient water for 200 men and animals. Road hence muchcut up by small khors. Lots of deleib palms.
Taira village (J. Eliri)432Small village at foot ofmountain; population, about 800 revolted slaves of the Rowaugatribe of the Hawazma Arabs; much water and cultivation; SheikhRizkalla, 20 rifles. Few cattle. Plenty of sheep and goats.
Road good from Taira throughdura cultivation and light thorn bush.
Tanguru436A large village, populationabout 1,100 revolted slaves of the Rowauga tribe of the HawazmaArabs. Sheikhs Mohammed Geiga and Ismail Wad Umbaga. About 50rifles.
Much water and cultivation, astream falls from the cultivated plateau 700 feet above in themountains and there are many wells besides. There is a rough trackleading up the glen alongside the waterfall to the Nuba village ontop (Sultan Bilula); population, 1,000 pure Nubas. No clothes atall, very few rifles, all spears and knobkerries, lots of dura,cattle and sheep. They hold little or no communication with thevillages below; able to hold their own in case of raids.
Supplies sufficient for 500men for 3 days. Road hence to Kurondo, a jebel to the S. Good roadround jebel to Dallass.
Dallass4½40½Small village; population,about 600 revolted slaves of Abdul Ali tribe of the Hawazma Arabs.Sheikh Rizgalla Mursul. Twenty rifles, sufficient cultivation andwater for own needs.
Lakolo242½Good road round jebel, butstony; could be easily improved. Large village; population, about1,200 revolted slaves of the Khalifa tribe of Hawazma Arabs.Sheikhs Zaid Barsham and Abdalla Kaki.
Lots of water andcultivation. Road hence up spur of mountain to Nuba village on top.A solitary hill ½ mile S.E. of village. Was told the river was 1½days’ journey due S., and that the people took 4 or 5 days morefrom there to Kodok by boats. Many cattle and goats. About 50rifles.
(vi.) J. Eliri(Lakolo) to J. El Amira.
J. Eliri—½Pass hill on right.
11½Cross khor.
2½4Cotton soil and thick thorntrees—very bad going.
Village26Goodgoing; road curves round jebel by rocks, and reaches village amongdeleib palms and tebeldi trees. Little cultivation and poor watersupply; population, about 200, no arms; very poor. Remains of Nubavillage on top. Was told the Nubas left the jebel and went S. toriver to live in Dinka country a year ago. River said to be 1½days’ journey due S. A few sheep and goats.
2¼8¼
Road hence to J. Kuronde,about 5 miles S.W.
(vii.) J. Eliri (Lakolo) to J.Werna.
Lakolo——
—½Road runs E., cross khorwhich runs along right of road.
½1Cross khor. Road runs betweenlow parallel ridges of hills named Lohno. Rough and stony.
12Road bends sharp toleft.
Lohno½2½Village of Lohno, small,population about 200. Very little cultivation, bad water supply.Road now bends to right, crossing rocky ridge.
½3Cross khor, bad going.
¼3¼Cross big deep khor, and turnsharp to right.
¼3½Recross big khor, road turnssharp to left.
½4Cross another khor.
½4½Going becomes better, roadruns through forest land.
3¼7¾Cross khor.
¼8Cross khor.
19Going becomes rough.
3½12½Turns sharp to left to Nubavillage of
Tekeim½13Tekeim, small village;population about 400; good water supply; little cultivation, veryfew cattle, but lots of goats.
1½14½A cross road leads to theTekeim dura fields.
½15An “agaba.” Camels had to beled up; cross a khor other side of “agaba.”
116Cross another khor, goingbecomes better.
1¾17¾Cross a khor, track leaveshills, good going.
El Girid1¼19A cone-shaped peak amongsthills to right known as El Girid, about 3 miles off. Bush veryopen.
423Bad going, cotton soilbegins, a most dreary view.
427Going better.
128Small hill ½ mile toright.
230Low hills ½ mile onleft.
434Cross khor.
Werna135Enter Werna hills, a group offive or six rocky hills about 300 to 400 feet high on smooth openground.
Population about 1,100,mainly revolted slaves of the Khalifa tribe of Hawazma Arabs underSheikh Abdul Naim. The original population was Nuba, but are nowvery much in the back ground. The real “Mek” is Abu Gabr Azaz. Theyhave about 40 rifles.
Plenty of water andcultivation, few cattle, many goats. People trade to river atKodok.
(viii.) J. Werna toLukka, viâ J. Morung, J. Gedir and J. Kologi.
Werna——
—2Road takes a wide curve outN. (to right) to avoid a swamp which exists all the year round.Good going until cotton soil, then bad going. Very opencountry.
Swamp2¼4¼Cross 100 yards of marshyground (end of the swamp).
¾5Cultivation for ½ mile, hugecrops of dura.
½5½Road turns to left over verybad cotton soil and through dense thorn trees.
38½A big khor, water standing inpools 100 yards long and 4 feet deep. Duck of two kinds and lots ofgame. Roan antelope and tetel.
1½10Firm ground; good going.
111Cultivation as far asMorung.
Morung213Village on conical hill;population: Kawahla tribe of Hawazma Arabs, much mixed with Nubas.Sheikh: Hassan Wad Tieb.
Population about 1,000; 30rifles. A fula supplies village with water until end of January;they then open wells. Good water supply. Plenty of cattle, sheep,goats and donkeys.
After leaving Morung for first 13½ milesgoing very good, through light bush and forest, perfectly flat; nohills.
13½26½A khor, cotton soil and thornbush begins.
127½Good going again.
1½29Cotton soil, and a big khorwith pools of water, dry by end of February.
1½30½A khor, bad going.
131½Good going.
132½Road bends to right, towardsS.E. corner of Gedir, and runs along base to corner.
436½Trackruns round corner and bends sharp to left to village of Mek Bosh,of Gedir. Population about 1,200, about 60 rifles; fair watersupply 10 feet from surface. Much dura cultivation. Population:Nubas. Plenty of cattle and sheep.
Gedir½37
Two other villages, Semat andGheibish, described on road to Kologi.
Road leaves Mek Bosh’svillage and runs round another spur at E. end of jebel, passing theMahdi’s rock where he used to preach to the people, and followsNorth-eastern face.
Semat138Small village of Semat, about200 people.
1½39½Track enters gorge, rough,stony going—between main jebel and a ridge of rocky hills runningout N. to J. Girada, 4 miles off.
El Gheibish140½Road clears N. end of themountain, and at the end of a spur is El Gheibish, a small villageof about 400 population, 40 rifles; fair water supply, lying amongdom palms. Road hence straight to J. Lukka.
1¼41¾Another road leads over verybad cotton soil to a khor, light thorn bush, bad going, cottonsoil.
2½44¼Firmground and good going through light forest, passing one village at11 miles, and reach main village of Kologi, lying among dom palmsunder the hill.
4¾49
Kologi villages——Population of the twovillages, about 1,500. They are sedentary Arabs (much crossed byNubas) of the Kawahla tribe of the Hawazma Arabs. Sheikhs GadumHassib El Nebi and Akhman Fadlalla.
No arms to speak of; quietpeople; do not raid. Fair water supply from wells; water eight feetfrom surface. Much dura cultivation. Many cattle, sheep andgoats.
Road leads out due N. towardsJ. Lukka.
K. Harrug¾49¾The khor Harrug; noobstacle.
½50¼Cross a ridge; rough stonygoing. Road leads straight towards Lukka between small rockyhills.
3¾54Road turns to right to getround Eastern spurs of J. Lukka, through thick thorn bush, andacross broken stony ground and small khors and ridges, and bendinground to left enters a valley and the village of Lukka.
Lukka2¼56¼Kawahla Arabs, with a crossof Nuba; Sheikh Janga Rahma. A large village of 1,000 people; norifles to speak of. Quiet people; do not raid. Much duracultivation. Water supply bad at camping place and insufficient for50 men and animals. Good clear water is obtained about 600 feet upthe mountain, where the Nuba colony get their water. Good campingground. Shade. Plenty of supplies, cattle, sheep, and goats.
(ix.) J. Talodi to J.Kadugli, viâ Kororak, Um Dorein (in J. Moro), Homra andSema.
Talodi (Felaita)——Roadleads S.W. along face of mountain, through the villages of Felaita,and turns W., following Southern and South-western face along thebase of the hills.
—2
J. Burham is seen 8 or 10miles off to the W., and J. Krongo a long way off to theW.S.W.
57Here theroad leaves the mountain and strikes off across the plain in aW.N.W. direction over cotton soil to a swamp, water one foot fromsurface (February, 1904).
Swamp½7½
29½Firm, good going.
514½A small rocky wooded hillockon right of road.
Kororak620½The road, skirting N.E.corner of Durham, leads straight to Kororak, a Nuba village in J.Moro. The village is high up on the face of the cliff. Population,about 1,500. The various Meks’ names are:—
(1)Tambura.
(2)Toto El Azrak.
(3)Toto Agari.
Plenty of dura, very fewcattle or sheep; no rifles.
People of Talodi come here tobuy grain.
Mountains of Digig andMasakin to south. Road follows base of hills at Kororak for 1 mile,and then strikes off West across rough gravelly soil and thornbush.
222½Cotton soil and thick thornbush.
123½Firm ground and lightbush.
Dorein3½27Road strikes the hills againat Um Dorein. Very small Nuba village on spur on left of road;small hill on right. Meks’ names are:—
(1)Toto El Ahmah;
(2)Abu Falang.
Road passes over ridge, stillgoing West over a small cultivated plain, with hills ½ mile away toleft and ¾ mile on right.
½27½Small rocky ridge in front.Best road leads to the left and then turns sharp to right round theridge and over broken rocky ground.
128½Track descends on to very badbroken cotton soil. Impassable swamp in rains for animals.
Well1¼29¾Track strikes mountain again.Well (water 2 feet from surface) on side of road after leaving theswamp.
231¾Road runs West along southface of hill and at 2 miles turns half right. Good going.
132¾Road leaves J. Moro andstrikes off W.N.W. across plain through light bush; very good goingto
Homra4½37¼Large Arab village,population 1,200. Great number of cattle, sheep, and goats. Wells,water 8 feet from surface.
K. Meshisha1½38¾Cross big Khor Meshisha, 40yards across, 5 feet deep.
1½40¼More Arab encampments,inhabited in rainy season, but deserted now (March, 1904).
141¼Cross deep khor, 8 feet, 8yards wide. Alternate cotton soil and fair going through thickthorn bush to
3½44¾A khor known at Sema andKadugli as the “Wadi.” A small hill on right; cotton soil.
549¾Alternate good and bad goingthrough thorn bush.
½50¼A shallow khor; lightbush.
Sema1½51¾Village of Sema, open stonycountry at foot of hills; population about 300. Mek Guru.
Three or four wells. Water 15feet; bad supply; only sufficient for five or six men and animalsat a time.
From here road turns N.W. andfollows base of hills over stony ground.
152¾Rough going; pass small rockyhill on right; a good deal of thorn bush.
254¾Track becomes clearer andleads over cotton soil past the wells in a khor to
Kadugli155¾Kadugli (Arab encampment), afew tukls against the S.W. end of a ridge of small hills. KadugliNuba village is 1 mile due E. on the main range called Ghuhub.
The Mek is Rahal Andal, anenergetic and trustworthy man. Has great influence for 50 milesround.
The Sudanese infantrybarracks, ½ company, are just beyond the encampment, and thegarrison has opened several wells of excellent clear water 6 feetfrom surface.
Supplies unlimited fromKadugli. Population of village about 1,200. They have about 50rifles.

[28]Between J. Kon and Taiara there is now a more direct road, viâ Yasin (W. Lloyd, 1903), but water is said to be very scarce (More, 1904).