Chapter III: (north-Eastern Sudan.) (2)

--------------+--------------------+----------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------
Berber | — | — |
| | |
_Maho Bey_ | 6 | 6 |_Vide_ report on north road.
| | |
Khor Abu Selim| 11 | 17 | „ „
| | |
Abu Odfa | 21 | 38 | „ „
| | |
Eramit | 5 | 43 | „ „
| | |
_Obak Wells_ | 16 | 59 | „ „
| | |
Ofik | 14 | 73 | „ „
| | |
| 4½ | 77½ |Track to Rauai branches away to
| | |right. Also a track to Rauai a few
| | |miles after leaving Obak.
| | |
| 1½ | 79 |Through low stony hills and Khor
| | |Laiameb is struck; track runs
| | |straight along khor. Going good; a
| | |gradual rise; Khor Wusser runs
| | |side by side with Laiameb, and
| | |appears to form part of it.
| | |
| 17 | 96 |Track leaves Khor Laiameb and
| | |crosses low neck of rock; low
| | |black stone hills on right hand;
| | |scattered boulders, some of
| | |similar shape to Abu Odfa on left
| | |hand. Hills gradually close in,
| | |and track crosses stony but not
| | |difficult agaba, or pass, some ¾
| | |mile long.
| | |
| ¾ | 96¾ |A path to left leads over hills to
| | |Ariab.
| | |
| 1¾ | 98½ |Over stony khor, then into hills
| | |again, and is stony, steep, bad
| | |going.
| | |
_Rauai Wells_ | 2 | 100½ |Stony sort of square, surrounded
| | |By stone hills, with a narrow khor
| | |running out each corner. Large
| | |graveyard on right. A few mimosa
| | |trees and some coarse grass.
| | |Indifferent camping ground. Wells
| | |½ mile up a narrow, rocky defile,
| | |running from east corner of
| | |square; two wells, revetted stone,
| | |good water 15 feet down;
| | |practically unlimited supply. This
| | |defile impassable for animals,
| | |which must go by easier way over
| | |hills to south-west, and then down
| | |side of hill again to the wells.
| | |Some rough drawings of camels,
| | |men, &c., scratched on rocks round
| | |wells. Rock grouse and partridges
| | |here. Track now runs north-west
| | |over short agaba, across a stony
| | |khor, and again an agaba winding
| | |over bare, stony hills; bad going;
| | |then a long, narrow, sandy khor;
| | |fair-going; then a rough, stony
| | |agaba leading over hills called
| | |Hadia Aweb or blackwater rock;
| | |thence into Khor Thela, a short
_Makadia | 14½ | 115 |agaba, and Bir Makadia, in small
Wells_ | | |khor same name, at head of Ariab
| | |valley; Ariab wells, about 6 miles
| | |west of north from here; one well
| | |good water 30 feet down, enough
| | |for one battalion, which would
| | |require 1½ hours to refill; good
| | |grazing ground and fuel. Some
| | |gazelle and grouse; north road
| | |about 3 miles from well. Going
| | |from Rauai bad, nearly whole way a
| | |succession of stony agabas. Prom
| | |here cross stony neck, then across
| | |head of Ariab valley. Pass Jebel
| | |Bokmaali on left hand, cross a
| | |stony neck, and
| | |
Yungul | 4 | 119 |Reach Wadi Yungul; north road
| | |about 8 miles to left; 4 miles,
| | |then cross another stony neck, and
| | |Wadi Beakwa, called by Arabs
| | |halfway to Suakin.
| | |
Khor Atbai | 7½ | 126½ |Cross Khor Atbai; 3 miles on cross
| | |old dura patch, none this year on
| | |account of bad rains. Over two
| | |sandy and stony ridges and
| | |
Wadi Kokreb | 3½ | 130 |Enter Kokreb valley; good going,
| | |firm sand, and thick with trees
| | |and shrubs. Over some stony ridges
| | |and
| | |
Khor Olowe | 2½ | 132½ |Enter Khor Olowe, still a part of
| | |Kokreb.
| | |
_Magwala | 3½ | 136 |Two wells, good water, 75 feet
Wells_ | | |down, sufficient for one
| | |battalion; would require some
| | |hours to refill; these wells are
| | |said by Arabs to be oldest on
| | |road; they are revetted granite,
| | |which is deeply grooved all round
| | |from constant hauling up of water.
| | |Are much used by Shebodinab tribe,
| | |who have huts close here. Many
| | |hods, or earth-made drinking pans,
| | |round each well. Some old Dervish
| | |“tukuls,” which used to be
| | |occupied by a detachment, for
| | |collecting taxes. Good camp
| | |ground, fuel and grazing, pigeons
| | |and sand grouse; no gazelle. Wells
| | |of Abd El Haabit lie some 7 or 8
| | |miles to north, and Jebel Wowitte,
| | |about 8 miles to north-east; Jebel
| | |Lagagaweb, the halfway rock on
| | |north road, is seen some 6 miles
| | |to north of west from here.
| | |
| | |Khor now gradually gets bare and
| | |intersected by strips of stone.
| | |
| 4 | 140 |Cross a ridge and Khor Lasheb,
| | |going indifferent, cut up by small
| | |watercourses over a ridge.
| | |
_Wadi Habub_ | 3 | 143 |Wadi Habub. Going still
| | |indifferent, across many ridges
| | |running into khor, 5½ miles on;
| | |track runs along edge of hills,
| | |and then enters the Komotitai
| | |hills by very stony and difficult
| | |agaba or pass, about 1½ miles
| | |long, then into sandy khor, full
| | |of vegetation of sorts. 2 miles up
| | |this khor to the
| | |
_Kamotitai | 11 | 154 |Wells of same name, _i.e._,
Wells_ | | |Kamotitai, three wells, revetted
| | |stone, good water 25 feet down
| | |unlimited supply. Many other wells
| | |in this khor now closed up; much
| | |used by Arabs, and at each well
| | |numerous hods. Good camp ground,
| | |fuel, and grazing; sand grouse and
| | |pigeons in abundance.
| | |
| | |A short way past wells, track
| | |bends to left past large
| | |graveyard; then across alternate
| | |khors and ridges; indifferent
| | |going.
| | |
Khor Arab | 7 | 161 |Thick with trees of all sorts, and
| | |considerable cultivation in good
| | |season. Two deep watercourses
| | |crossed soon after entering khor;
| | |3 miles on the track runs to north
| | |of khor, over stony ridges, with
| | |low stone hills on either hand.
| | |
Jebel Okwer | 7 | 168 |Jebel Okwer begins on left of
| | |khor, several small pyramid-shaped
| | |hills on right, and khor
| | |stretching away beyond them.
| | |
_Khor Amate | 3½ | 171½ |Over a low ridge, and Wadi Amate
Wells_ | | |begins; track running across large
| | |patch of old cultivation into a
| | |sandy khor; one well some 200
| | |yards to right, another ½ mile
| | |straight on. There is a third
| | |well, now closed. These wells,
| | |revetted wood, good water 12 feet
| | |down; supply practically
| | |unlimited; many hods. Good camp
| | |ground, fuel and grazing. A stone
| | |hut close to well, and place thick
| | |with sheep and goats, and some
| | |cattle.
| | |
| | |Track from here runs north-west,
| | |over small agaba into narrow khor
| | |thick with trees. Okwer range
| | |still on left; low hills on right
| | |3½ miles, and hills on right hand,
| | |and track again enters main Khor
| | |Amate. Batta range on far right
| | |and in front; ½ mile on Okwer
| | |range ends.
| | |
| 4½ | 176 |Track to _wells of Abu Goloda_
| | |runs north from here.
| | |
| 3½ | 179½ |End of Khor Amate, and Batta range
| | |entered by fairly easy agaba,
| | |running east 1½ miles; then cross
| | |small stony khor, then another
| | |agaba through smaller hills, going
| | |bad.
| | |
_Hormareb | 3½ | 183 |Jebel Homugwer away in distance to
Well_ | | |right, ¾ mile off track to north
| | |in small khor same name, Bir
| | |Hormareb; one well, good water 25
| | |feet down; supply about 1,000
| | |gallons; requires some hours to
| | |refill. Several hods round well;
| | |good grazing and fuel, indifferent
| | |ground. _Another well_ reported,
| | |same description, 3 or 4 miles
| | |further up khor to north. From
| | |here bad going, over stony ridges
| | |and small khors.
| | |
Wadi Ma’areit | 3½ | 186½ |Large graveyard on right, and
| | |track turns sharp to left up Wadi
| | |Ma’areit, a broad level valley,
| | |running north and south; good
| | |going, and considerable
| | |cultivation after good rains. This
| | |year a few patches dura. North-
| | |west corner of valley thickly
| | |studded with trees, and was in old
| | |days a favourite summer resort of
| | |people from Suakin.
| | |
| 6½ | 193 |Hills close right in on either
| | |side, and the narrow wooded Khor
| | |Ashaf leads through hills 2 miles;
| | |track bends north-east, 1½ miles
| | |on, and cross a flat khor, with
| | |sparse vegetation, thick with
| | |flocks.
| | |
| | |Now over alternate rough ridges
| | |and small ragged khors. 2½ miles
| | |down a sharp agaba into a small
| | |khor, green and sweet smelling,
| | |then wind round base of hills
| | |miles, and enter Khor Tabikuk.
| | |
Khor Tabikuk | 7½ | 200½ |Across this khor, 3½ miles, top a
| | |ridge, and view Sinkat valley,
| | |green and thick with people and
| | |flocks; down small agaba, over low
| | |ridge, and enter valley.
| | |
_Sinkat Well_ | 4½ | 205 |One large well, good water 25 feet
| | |down; unlimited supply. Several
| | |large gemmeiza trees round wells
| | |give excellent shade; ruins old
| | |Egyptian fort also close to wells.
| | |Large village in valley, with
| | |several thousand people, built
| | |partly straw huts, partly Arab
| | |tents, small bazaar, and large
| | |stores of gum.
| | |
| | |Good ground, fuel and grazing.
| | |Khor Adit leads from north Sinkat
| | |valley towards Khor Ossaud.
| | |
| | |Track from well runs east across
| | |valley, then over low ridge across
| | |two deep watercourses, and up a
| | |stony, gradually-narrowing khor,
| | |which winds through the hills.
| | |
_Khor Gebet_ | 6½ | 211½ |A short but bad agaba, a small
| | |khor, a ridge, another small khor,
| | |another ridge and Khor Gebet;
| | |about 3 miles up this khor to
| | |right are two wells.
| | |
| 3 | 214½ |Commencement of the great Sinkat
| | |Agaba or Pass, along which track
| | |runs for 3½ miles; very bad,
| | |difficult going, practically
| | |impassable for wheeled artillery,
| | |and would be altogether
| | |impracticable but for the work
| | |done years ago by Mumtaz Pasha,
| | |then Governor of Suakin. In this
| | |agaba the Khor Gwob rises, which,
| | |gradually widening, eventually
| | |reaches the sea some 7 miles south
| | |of Suakin.
| | |
_Khor Gwob_ | 3½ | 218 |End of agaba, and good going over
| | |firm sand; gradual descent down
| | |khor, which gradually widens.
| | |Hills on either side, thick with
| | |tamarisk, and cactus, &c. Huge
| | |boulders on each side also
| | |protruding from bed of khor. Pools
| | |of water, with thick reeds here
| | |and there, in which were many
| | |teal; also many partridges, rock
| | |grouse, and pigeons in khor.
| | |
_Tamanib_ | 6 | 224 |Unlimited supply, good running
| | |water; fair camp ground; excellent
| | |grazing; plenty fuel. Many cattle
| | |grazing here.
| | |
| | |Road now leaves Khor Gwob and
| | |turns to right; runs over low
| | |ridges, with small khors between;
| | |full of gazelle, ariel and hares.
| | |
| 10 | 234 |Hills cease, and a straight down-
| | |hill run into Suakin, over plain
| | |covered with coarse vegetation.
| | |
Suakin | 10 | 244 |Suakin.
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------

3.—BERBER TO KASSALA.

COMPILED IN INTELLIGENCE OFFICE, KHARTOUM, FROM VARIOUS SKETCHES
AND REPORTS, JUNE, 1902.

This route is very difficult to map or describe so as to be of use to the traveller, as there are hardly half a dozen unmistakable objects along it by which he could identify his position.

As the Atbara dries up, it leaves a series of pools along its bed. Where the banks allow of these pools being approached by animals, the Arabs’ flocks are taken to water, and paths are beaten or cut through the bush leading to these meshras.

[Sidenote: Guides.]

The ordinary Arab guide, even if he has been in the habit of travelling by this road for years, knows only a small number of these meshras, _i.e._, those most conveniently situated for the class of journey he has been in the habit of performing, and only one or two of the countless tracks. The only people who know all the small meshras off the road, and they perhaps over a limited portion of the river, are the Arabs (Hadendoas) who are grazing their flocks there. If the traveller, therefore, because he is marching with troops or for any other reason, wishes to use the less well-known meshras, he must depend on local inquiries and should, therefore, have with him men who speak Hadendoa.

Another great difficulty is the comparatively small number of men who know the names of any except the chief meshras. Consequently the average guide makes the names he knows extend over the whole length of the river. Where one ends, another begins. The Arabs grazing their flocks by the Atbara, on the other hand, will give you names for each little bit of the river, but these names are of little value, as no one else knows them.

[Sidenote: Rest houses.]

There are rest houses at intervals of about 20 miles between Berber and Kassala.

[Sidenote: Grazing.]

There is good grazing for camels practically the whole way.

[Sidenote: Travellers.]

Persons travelling by themselves in the hot weather may find it best to march very early in the morning, halt at water, and march again near sunset, carrying enough water for the night-halt away from the river.

[Sidenote: Supplies.]

No supplies of any sort are to be got along road, except perhaps milk and sheep.

[Sidenote: Game.]

There is good fishing in the Atbara. Gazelle, bustard and ariel are seen along the route in localities, varying with the season. Wild asses are numerous north of Goz Regeb.

[Sidenote: Inhabitants.]

Some Bisharin are met, and a good many nomad Hadendoas.

--------------+--------------------+----------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------
Berber | — | — |From Berber the road runs between
| | |the river and the railway.
| | |
Darmali | 13 | 13 |A mud built village on the Nile;
| | |the usual road now branches
| | |southwards, crosses the railway
| | |and than a bare, gravelly,
Khor El Hudi | 17 | 30 |waterless plain to Khor El Hudi.
| | |(If preferred, the Atbara can be
| | |followed by continuing along the
| | |Nile to Atbara Station, which is
| | |about 7 miles from Darmali.)
| | |
| | |From El Hudi, where the remains of
| | |the Anglo-Egyptian zeriba are
| | |still visible, the road skirts the
| | |river which is fringed with dom
Khor Abadar or| 8 | 38 |palms and other bush to Khor
Abu Adar | | |Abadar, near the junction of which
| | |there is a small stone wall
| | |enclosure and the remains of
| | |another Anglo-Egyptian zeriba.
| | |
| | |From here the road cuts off an
| | |angle from the river and lies
_Khor El Hilg_| 19 | 57 |across open gravelly desert till
(Rest House) | | |Khor El Hilg is reached.
| | |
| | |(Nakheila, the site of Mahmud’s
| | |zeriba and the battle of the
| | |Atbara, is passed at the 12th
| | |mile, about 5 miles to the west.)
| | |There is dense bush about here,
| | |and the ground is likely to be
| | |swampy in the rains.
| | |
Sheikh El | 3½ | 60½ |The house stands on slightly
Sebib’s House | | |rising ground. After passing this
(Rest House). | | |the country continues to be broken
| | |by small khors until after passing
_Gemmeiza_ | 12 | 72½ |Gemmeiza, a good halting place,
(Rest House) | | |but much bush hereabouts.
| | |
| | |The country soon becomes open and
| | |level, and is covered with
| | |scattered selem and sunt bushes.
| | |The river is generally nowhere
| | |more than a mile and half to the
| | |west.
| | |
El Hagar | 14½ | 87 |Here there are rocks in the river
| | |bed.
| | |
Khor El Fil | 1 | 88 |The going continues excellent
| | |until reaching Khor Adarama which
Khor Adarama | 8 | 96 |is about 1½ miles in width and is
| | |marked by very thick scrub of
| | |sunt, talh, and tundub, as well as
| | |by the badly cracked cotton soil
| | |indicative of standing water.
| | |
_Adarama_ | 1½ | 97½ |Adarama consists of a large number
(Rest House) | | |of mud walled enclosures,
| | |scattered over about ¾ of a square
| | |mile of ground. These are almost
| | |entirely deserted and mostly
| | |ruined. With the exception of the
| | |inspector’s house, camel corps
| | |lines, and a few tukls, there are
| | |practically no inhabited houses.
| | |In the dry weather there are two
| | |water pools in the vicinity, one
| | |at the foot of Khor Adarama, and
| | |another about ¾ mile higher up.
| | |The approach to the river is easy,
| | |but the bank shelves steeply to
| | |the river bed from a height of
| | |about 25 feet.
| | |
El Hejera | 1½ | 99 |A large zeriba of Osman Digna’s is
| | |passed.
| | |
Um Bashim | 2 | 101 |The name of this district. After
| | |passing through two patches of
| | |bush about a mile apart, the
| | |country becomes open and sandy,
| | |and sand ridges appear to the
| | |east.
| | |
El Siwan | 8 | 109 |Here the river may be approached,
| | |and further on the track passes
| | |within a few yards of the river
| | |bank.
| | |
_Shellalab_ | 10½ | 119½ |Shellalab, a sandy hill covered
(Rest House | | |with marakh bushes. From here the
near here). | | |track continues to the river bank,
| | |through scattered marakh bush, and
| | |sand hills lie away to the east.
Gala Amarus | — | — |The river can be approached almost
| | |anywhere, and the path is never
_Meshra Baluk | 21½ | 141 |more than about ½ a mile from it.
or Um Beiba_ | | |Jebel Ayob is visible about 7
(Rest House). | | |miles due east.
| | |
| | |From here the path traverses
| | |scattered bush, and in places
| | |badly cracked cotton soil,
| | |indicating the existence of water
| | |in the rains, and gradually
| | |ascends an easy slope on to the
| | |plateau, and thus cuts off a bend
| | |in the river.
| | |
Debba Gulal | 13 | 154 |Debba Gulal.
| | |
| | |The descent from the plateau
| | |begins 3 miles further on, and the
_Meshra_ | 7 | 161 |river is struck at a good meshra.
| | |
_Meshra | 3 | 164 |The path continuing near the
Mitateb_ (Rest| | |river, Mitateb, the first meshra
House). | | |in the Hadendoa country, is
| | |reached. The Bisharin country on
| | |right bank ends here, as also the
| | |Berber Province; the Province of
| | |Kassala is now entered. Rest house
| | |here.
| | |
| | |From here the path gradually
| | |ascends a gentle slope to the
| | |plateau, from where Jebels Ofreik
| | |and Erembat soon become visible.
| | |Scattered heglig, tundub, and samr
| | |trees are noticeable, of these
| | |samr predominate as Goz Regeb is
| | |approached.
| | |
| | |Two miles before reaching old
| | |telegraph hut the road descends
| | |from the plateau, and the river is
| | |reached at this hut, which forms a
| | |good halting place. The village of
_Goz Regeb_ | 15 | 179 |Goz Regeb is situated on a slight
(Rest House) | | |eminence close to the river on the
| | |left bank, and is marked by a few
| | |dom palms. Some Government
| | |buildings are now in course of
| | |construction on the right bank,
| | |the idea being that Goz Regeb
| | |should form a sanatorium for
| | |Kassala during the rains. The
| | |direct track to Kassala and that
| | |in general use leaves J. Erembat
| | |to the north, and strikes straight
| | |across the level plain. At about
_Bir Teishum_ | 38 | 217 |38 miles, Bir Teishum is passed in
(Rest House) | | |the bed of a branch of the Gash,
| | |about 3 miles off the direct road.
| | |It has been lately opened up, and
| | |has a good supply of water, and
| | |Arabs were living here (March,
| | |1902). There is little shade to be
| | |had on this road until after
Khor Ebret | 20 | 237 |passing Khor Ebret, when kurmet
| | |and other green trees and bushes
Khor Gash | 5 | 242 |become numerous. On nearing the
| | |Gash, signs of cultivation appear.
| | |
_Tukruf_ | 1¾ | 243¾ |Many wells in bed of Gash;
| | |unlimited supply of water.
| | |
Kassala | 2¾ | 246½ |Destination.

ANOTHER ROUTE MAY BE TAKEN FROM GOZ REGEB _viâ_ ASUBRI TO KASSALA.

_Goz Regeb_ | 179 | 179 |The track ascends to the plateau
| | |and follows the edge of it,
| | |leaving the river several miles to
| | |the west. There are several
| | |meshras, all of which, however,
| | |are almost impossible to find
| | |without a guide.
| | |
_Meshra Um | 30 | 209 |This meshra is somewhere about
Bereika_ | | |half-way.
| | |
_Asubri_ | 35 | 244 |Good meshra and shade.
| | |
| | |About 5 miles after leaving the
| | |river for Kassala, the road from
| | |Suweihil joins in, and rather
| | |thick laot and kittr bush is
Goz El Handal | 8½ | 252½ |traversed till reaching Goz El
| | |Handal, an open gravelly plain
| | |with short grass extending for
| | |about 2 miles From here to
| | |Umsiteiba there is little bush.
| | |
Umsiteiba | 13 | 265½ |A place where water stands in the
| | |rains; not much shade.
| | |
Khor Garatet | 3 | 268½ |Rather swampy and difficult for
| | |camels in the rains.
| | |
Khor Um Dahan | 6 | 274½ |Water stands in this khor in the
| | |rains. It is about 6 yards wide
| | |and 3 feet deep.
| | |
| | |There are Arab settlements near
| | |here in the rains for cultivation.
| | |After passing through some rather
Khor Kunti | 6 | 280½ |thick laot, &c., bush, Khor Kunti,
| | |about 8 yards wide and 6 feet
| | |deep, is crossed.
| | |
Khor Gash | 4¼ | 284¾ |Many marakh and kurmet bushes
| | |until the Gash is reached.
| | |
Kassala | ¾ | 285½ |
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------

4.—SUAKIN TO TOKAR.

BY LIEUTENANT A. M. TAGGART, 1ST BOMBAY LANCERS, JULY, 1896;
CAPTAIN MCKERRELL, CAMERON HIGHLANDERS, DECEMBER, 1897.

--------------+--------------------+----------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------
Suakin | — | — |For the first 25 miles the track
| | |is well defined, and leads over
| | |hard ground never more than a mile
| | |or two from the sea shore. During
| | |the next 6 miles it changes in
| | |character, and for the last 25
| | |miles leads through bushes and
| | |over sandhills, the tracks varying
| | |according to the season and the
| | |difficulties (drifting sand, &c.)
| | |to be encountered. There is no
| | |water to be had on the way. A
| | |telegraph line leads direct from
| | |Suakin to Tokar, but does not
| | |always follow the best road.
| | |
| | |Leaving Suakin in a S.S.E.
| | |direction, the track is broad and
| | |distinct, passing over hard, sandy
| | |ground, with a few bushes 1 to 3
| | |feet high.
| | |
Khor Gwob | 7½ | 7½ |Crosses broad Khor Gwob.
| | |
| 3 | 10½ |Track now 5 to 10 feet broad,
| | |approaches sea shore, then bears
| | |away again. Near this point (4
| | |hours from Suakin) there are
| | |reported to have been some wells
| | |in 1885; water 6 feet down and
| | |brackish, hardly ever used.
| | |
| 2 | 12 |Saw some trees due east, halfway
| | |to the sea; said to be _wells of
| | |Helub_. Water bitter, and but
| | |little used.
| | |
| 3 | 15 |Track meets telegraph line.
| | |
| 2½ | 17½ |Over rising ground. Extensive view
| | |in all directions to the westward,
| | |well-defined khor trending north-
| | |west. Sparse bushes 2 to 3 feet
| | |high, ground hard and sandy,
| | |overlying coral. Track descends
| | |again; then level ground.
| | |
Khor Asab | 7½ | 25 |Reached Khor Asab, which runs in
| | |from the hills to the west; it is
| | |called half-way to Tokar. Here a
| | |track branches off to the left,
| | |and leads to Teb.
| | |
| 6 | 31 |Mud huts in ruins. Track becomes
| | |narrow and indistinct. Bush
| | |thicker, 4 to 8 feet high.
| | |
| | |Surface shifting sand, with clay
| | |patches.
| | |
| 8 | 39 |Crosses several small khors,
| | |sometimes traces of water here.
| | |Bush very thick.
| | |
Khor Tamai | 2 | 41 |Small pool of rainwater (at
| | |certain seasons only).
| | |
Mamuria | 4 | 45 |Ruined Mamuria of Mumtaz Pasha—mud
| | |house. Telegraph line crossed
| | |three times since the 31st mile.
| | |Bush becomes thicker.
| | |
Old Tokar | 5 | 50 |Old Tokar—in ruins. Broken ground
| | |and thick bush.
| | |
_Abdulla Rai_ | 2 | 52 |Abdulla Rai Fort (fat loopholed
| | |tower, with pointed roof), on an
| | |eminence, visible from some
| | |distance. Nine wells here, water
| | |good—never known to fail, 54 feet
| | |down (July). Large herds of camels
| | |and goats in the district. Thick
| | |bush all round.
| | |
| | |Track now due south-east to Tokar,
| | |surface hard and clayey, covered
| | |in places with drifted sand; bush
| | |3 to 6 feet high. Tokar signal
| | |tower visible.
| | |
| 3 | 55 |Leave the bush, across level mud
| | |plain to
| | |
_Tokar_ | 1 | 56 |Tokar, _vide_ Part I, Chap. III.
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------

5.—TRINKITAT TO TOKAR, _viâ_ TEB.

BY CAPTAIN BOWER, I.S.C., AND EDITOR, JULY, 1896.

--------------+--------------------+----------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------
Trinkitat | — | — |The whole road from Trinkitat to
| | |Tokar is passable for all arms,
| | |and it is only when approaching
| | |Tokar that the scrub about the
| | |country becomes thick enough to
| | |interfere with the action of
| | |cavalry.
| | |
| | |For 2½ miles from Trinkitat the
| | |road runs along a broad
| | |embankment, on which for 1 mile an
| | |18-inch gauge railway has been
| | |laid down. After leaving the
| | |embankment there is a sandy
| | |stretch, and then about 2 miles of
| | |narrow embankment just broad
| | |enough for the railway line. This
| | |embankment in places has rather a
| | |serpentine course, and would have
| | |to be straightened before rails
| | |could be laid down.
| | |
_El Teb_ | 7 | 7 |At El Teb there is a small fort,
| | |and an ample supply of water at a
| | |depth of 17 feet.
| | |
| | |Three wells inside fort and
| | |numerous ones outside, these
| | |latter mostly for animals.
| | |
| | |The water in the different wells
| | |varies in quality, but is all
| | |slightly brackish. No ill effects,
| | |however, appear to attend drinking
| | |it, and the men quartered there
| | |spoke favourably of it.
| | |
| | |The parapet of the fort is a brick
| | |wall 10 feet high, 1½ feet thick;
| | |ditch 11 feet broad, 8 feet deep.
| | |Signal tower as at Tokar, 43 feet
| | |high. Scene of battle of El Teb,
| | |29th February, 1884, just north of
| | |present fort.
| | |
| | |There are two roads from Teb to
| | |Tokar, both broad (30-50 yards)
| | |clearings through the bush. The
| | |“new” road is the straightest, but
| | |leads over soft sandhills and is
| | |rarely used. The other road bears
| | |gradually westwards a mile south
| | |of Teb, and cannot be missed if
| | |the traveller keeps on the west
| | |edge of the clearing. Excellent
| | |going for all arms. Bush on either
| | |side 3 to 10 feet high.
| | |
_Abdulla Rai_ | 8 | 15 |Junction of Suakin track. Abdulla
| | |Rai Fort, ½ mile west of track.
| | |
Tokar | 2½ | 17½ |Tokar.
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------

6.—(α) SUAKIN TO ERKOWIT, _viâ_ TAMANEB AND KHOR ARAB.

BY MAJOR POWELL, R.E., MARCH, 1903.

--------------+--------------------+----------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------
Suakin | — | — |Leaving Suakin by the Shaata Gate
| | |the track leads S.W. up the plain
| | |reaching the granite outcrops of
| | |the foot hills. Over broken, but
| | |easy ground to Tamaneb, where
| | |there is running water.
| | |
_Tamaneb_ | 8 | 18 |The track passes W. of Tamaneb and
| | |ascends the flat valley bottom of
| | |Khor Gwob to 22 miles, where the
| | |junction with the Khor Nagit is
| | |reached. Leaving the route to
| | |Sinkat, which goes on up Gwob, the
| | |track turns S.W. up Khor Nagit
| | |till 27 miles, and then crosses a
| | |short rocky agaba into Khor Manab.
| | |Descending this easy valley, at
| | |29½ miles the junction with Khor
| | |Arab is reached. To avoid a gorge
| | |the track ascends the hillside
| | |about 150 feet by a different rock
| | |path descending into the valley at
| | |30½ miles. Up the valley, easy
| | |going, for about a mile pass
| | |_running water_ (brackish and
| | |unpleasant), then ascend by steep
| | |zigzags up the left bank (1 in 4
| | |at worst), after ½ mile along the
| | |steep hillside cross the valley
| | |and rise by a steep path to the
| | |saddle separating Khor Arab from
| | |the Khor Dahand. Descend into the
| | |latter by a rocky path and, after
| | |ascending with difficulty the
| | |rocky torrent bed for another ½
| | |mile, reach the foot of the Agatba
| | |agaba at mile 34. A steep climb of
| | |¾ mile brings one to the summit,
| | |after which the route crosses easy
| | |rises and dips to Erkowit at mile
_Erkowit_ | 21 | 39 |39.
| | |
| | |Good hill camels lightly laden
| | |took 11 marching hours from
| | |Erkowit to Suakin by this route,
| | |and would take about 14 hours to
| | |ascend. The track is not fit for
| | |horses or fully laden mules.
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------

(β) SUAKIN TO ERKOWIT, _viâ_ KOLKALAI PASS.

BY MAJOR POWELL, R.E., MARCH, 1903.

--------------+--------------------+----------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------
Suakin | — | — |Track leaves Suakin S.S.W. over
| | |the plain. At mile 13 crosses Khor
| | |Gwob, a wide open wadi with low
| | |banks and thick bush. This Khor is
| | |occasionally impassable when in
| | |flood. About mile 16 the road
| | |reaches the granite outcrops of
| | |the foothills, and descends into a
_Taharoi_ | 17 | 17 |wadi at Taharoi (mile 17), where
| | |there are usually several wells
| | |much resorted to for watering
| | |flocks. This year only one well
| | |and that almost dry. Depth to
| | |water usually 10 feet.
| | |
| | |Tracks leads S. to Khor Tehela,
| | |leaving J. Gumberit to E. At mile
| | |20 usually a well, but dry this
| | |year. Then S.W. into the Khor
| | |Dahand at 25 miles; track enters
| | |the hills and goes for 3 miles up
| | |the easy valley. At mile 28 there
| | |is _water in the hill_ to S. and
| | |several Hadendoa tukls.
| | |
| | |Track then takes to hillside,
| | |rising by zigzags up the end of a
| | |spur. At first 1 in 6, then 1 in 4
| | |to the ridge, then very steeply 1
| | |in 3 to another col, by short
| | |zigzags and rocky steps; very bad
| | |for pack animals, but good hill
| | |camels get up with light loads.
| | |Track descends along hillside for
| | |about 1 mile; all green, with
| | |shrubs, grass and ferns.
| | |Francolin, partridge and quail
| | |plentiful. Some bad places in
| | |descent, then easy path, and again
| | |short difficult rise to the edge
| | |of the Erkowit plateau.
| | |
| | |Total ascent from Khor Dahand a
| | |little over 2,000 feet.
| | |
| | |Camels took 3 hours. The track is
| | |not fit to ride over.
| | |
_Erkowit_ | 17 | 34 |After about ¾ mile Erkowit is
| | |reached.
| | |
| | |Leaving this route at mile 20 a
| | |track leads up Khor Masilli, S. of
| | |Dahand; the bad ascent on this is
| | |shorter, but equally bad, and the
| | |whole distance is longer.
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------

7.—(α) ERKOWIT TO SINKAT, _viâ_ BARAMIL PLAINS.

BY MAJOR POWELL, R.E., MARCH, 1903.

--------------+--------------------+----------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------
Erkowit | — | — |South over easy ground to head of
| | |Khor Amrat, down the sandy bed of
| | |the khor W.N.W. Leaving the khor
| | |the track rises for ¼ mile over a
| | |stony slope, reaching the Baramil
| | |Plain at 4 miles from Erkowit. For
| | |14 miles the track runs W.N.W.
| | |over the firm surface of the
| | |plains. Large herds of ariel are
| | |seen, a few flocks and nomad
| | |Arabs, but no water. Down stony
| | |and occasionally narrow khor N.W.
_Towai Wells_ | 18¾ | 18¾ |to Towai Wells, which are at side
| | |of khor 12 feet deep. Water fair
| | |and plentiful.
| | |
_Sinkat_ | 2¾ | 21½ |Down Khor Towai over a low stony
| | |rise and descend W.N.W.; wide khor
| | |until it joins the open Sinkat
| | |Valley and reaches the well and
| | |ruins of the old Fort at 21½
| | |miles.
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------

(β) ERKOWIT TO SINKAT, _viâ_ KHOR GEBET.

BY MAJOR POWELL, R.E., MARCH, 1903.

--------------+--------------------+----------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------
Erkowit | — | — |Route descends the valley W.S.W.
| | |from Erkowit by rocky surface
| | |track over ridges and dips, rising
| | |after 2½ miles by a stony ascent
| | |to the edge of Baramil plateau.
| | |This length is the worst part of
| | |the route, it is practicable, but
| | |not good for loaded camels, and is
| | |easily capable of improvement by
| | |unskilled labour.
| | |
| | |Along Baramil plateau, W. for
| | |about 2 miles, then N.N.W. over
| | |gentle ascent, and cross an easy
| | |but stony agaba, and descent N.
| | |down a khor leading to the open
| | |valley of Gebet. No obstacle.
_Gebet Well_ | 14¼ | 14¼ |Gentle descent N.W. to the well at
| | |14¼ miles. Water good; large
| | |flocks and herds; one well 30 feet
| | |deep. Down the open valley W.N.W.
| | |3 miles, where route is joined by
| | |the direct track from Suakin to
| | |Sinkat, _viâ_ the Sinkat agaba,
| | |then W. 1 mile to a short stony
| | |agaba leading into the Khor Abu
| | |Shid, the main valley of which is
| | |reached at mile 20. Thence easy
| | |going over a wide wadi to Sinkat
_Sinkat_ | 8¾ | 23 |at mile 23.
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------

8.—KASSALA TO SUAKIN, _viâ_ FILIK, MAMAN, AND KHOR SITARAB.

BY LIEUT.-COL. MITFORD, APRIL, 1899.

(_Corrected up to_ 1900.)