Page:Science vol. 5.djvu/314

 [Vol. V. S-o.

��THE ROUTE FROM SUAKtN TO BERBEU.

This route, estimated by General Gordon dur- ing his rapid passage over it in 18T4 as about itIH miles io lengtli, and found by Major Prout in his careful reconnoissance in 1875 to be about 255 to 260 miles, is one presenting great and peculiar difficulties to the march over it of a large body of troops ; especially betneen the months of March and November, when the heat is excessive, and when those troops may be required to deal, during the march, with hostile forees.

Starting at sea-levcI at Snakin, it ends at an altitude of about 1,240 feet on the Nile, at Berber, after having attained at one point an altitude of nearly 3,000 feet.

In its entire length it is practically, /or a large force, a barren, treeless, waterless desert, but quite different for a small detachment of a few hundred men with their necessary animals. For a lai^e force (say, 5,000 to 10.000 men) the water used by men and horses must in some manner be transported with them or in advance of them.

The wells and water-holes on the whole line may be quickly named and described, as fol- lows : at about 2 miles from Suakin are the wells which furnish water to the town ; and liere a good supply for a large force may be had. The next water is at El Ilundouk, about 9 miles out. These wells furnish partly sweet and partly brackish water, sufiQcient for about 25U men and 500 animals. At about 17 miles out are the wells of 0-Taon. with L-apacitj for, say, 250 men and their horses. In the valley of Sinkal, at about 23 miles, 200 men with 300 animals can usually be supplied b}- shallow water-holes, which are called the wells of Hambouk ; and it is probable, that, by using care, this result might be doubled. Sinkat, nearly 1,000 feet above sea-level, was, in former times of peace and good govern- ment, used as a summer residence by tlie richer merchants of Suakin.

At about 40 miles from Suakin, the wells of Kissibil can furnish good water for a small party, say, a general officer with his staff and escort ; and thence on, no water is found until Wady Haratree is reached, at about 04 miles out. Here 600 men and as many ani- mals can driuk. Eleven miles farther on, an equally good supply is found at the wells of Saialaat.

The next supply worth mentioning is the well of Abd-el-Hab, where perhaps two bat- talions might be supplied. This excellent well is 97^ miles from Suakin. At El Ariab. about

��118 miles from Suakin, there are three largi' wells, well constructed, and fUniishing good water, in quantity large enough for two or three battalions, with a fair proportion of animals, — a strategic point which should be held by a permanent garrison if the rond is to be used.

From El Ariab to 0-Baek, a distance of nearly 60 miles, no water is found; and eveu at 0-Baek the supply is very disappointing to thirsty inarchera, since it is bat^ly auf- flcient for n battalion with its animals, .and is often brackish. Thence on. the route is in blank desert until within sis miles of Berber.

Thus it is seen that on the eastern half of the route there is scant supply of water for the advanced guard of a strong division, while on the western half there is practically no WAter until within six miles of Berber. Througbottt the line, cannon and wagons can be drawn wj " little difllculty ; but the eastern half passes fl quently thi'ough narrow and tortuous def" which an active and intelligent enemy i render extremely dangerous to a force. C. P. St(

��THE ISLAND OF COZUMEL.

DiJRiKu the night of Jan. 22 last, the VM fish-commission steamer Albatross w: chored oft' the northern end of the island of Cozumel. on the east coast of Yucatan, and on the 23d steamed along the western side of the island to an anchoiage off the village of

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��San Miguel, four miles from its north-west end. The naturalists went ashoi-e next day in two divisions, — a shore party and a seining party, the latter aided by men from the ship. Bolb were remarkably successful, the birds Dollecte<l

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