Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/351

 I TOPOOBAPHY— EL.FA?HER— KOBEH— TORA. 279 not take the direction of Khurtura, or even that of the Nubian Nile. Ciuided by the stars, the sun, and old Waton paths, it marched from station to station in a northerly direction, attaining the Nile at Siut. Like the caravan of Kordofan, it had its particular route, wells, and oases, and hence did not run the risk of having to fight for the jxisscssion of the water gushing forth hero and there in the desert. Moreover it was split up into several sections, which foUowetl each other at a few days' interval, so as to give the water time to collect again at the bottom of the wells. Some caravans, compelled to move rapidly, completed the journey in forty- five days ; but they usually rested at the stations and in the oases, and did not arrive in the valley of the Nile till after a journey of two or three months. Bearing the valuable products of central Africa — ivory, ostrich feathers, gum, tamarinds, skins of wild beasts, and rhinoceros horns, to which were added slaves, eunuchs and the bulk of the camels of the caravan — the merchants usually remained about six months in Egypt, awaiting the return of the pilgrims from Mecca. The}' then set out on their return journey to I)ar-F6r laden with woollen goods, pearls, glass trinkets, and chased weapons, articles light of weight but of great value, for the transport of which they did not require such a long convoy of animals. At the time of the French expedition into Egypt, General Bonaparte, desiring to open up relations with the Sultan of Dar-For by means of these caravans, asked him to send in exchange for his merchandise, " two thousand black slaves, over sixteen years of age, strong and vigorous." Topography. . Dar-For is naturally divided into a central province, that of the mountainous region, from which the watercourses descend, and where the masters of the country have nearly always resided, and into the provinces of the surrounding lands, including the region of the steppes. The ddr or central region, which comprises the highlands, is known by the name of Torra ; the others are termed according. to their geographical situation, D&r-Tokonavi or "the north," Dali or " the east," Uma or " the south," Diraa or " the south-west," and El-Gharb or " the west." Moreover, oil the well-defined geographical regions bear the name of d&r or " country," independently of the political or administrative divisions. El-Fasher — KonKH — Tora. The present Father, that is to say the " Residence," is situated at a height of 2,456 feet on the eastern slope of Dar-For, between two stuuly hills, and on the edge of the Tendelti lakelet, which is fed by a wady descending from the northern Marrah hills. Its current, being retained by a dyke, supplies the inhabitants with water for more than half of the year ; however, before the rainy season the bed of the lake has to be excavated to a dii)th of over 30 feet before drinking water can be procured. El-Fasher lies nearly midway between the capitals of