New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-12


Consul remained but short time here, and then
Travelled westwnre to the town Of Abou- Harass on
the Blue Nile, visiting on the way curious iso-
lated mountain called Djebel Atsesh Near Aboa.
Harass are the ruins Of an ancient Christian town.
probably tsting from the Surth or fifth century
about which, time Christianity. previously planted
in Abyssinia, began to advance northwsrd towards
Nuba. The e:sBsul obtained from the Governor
of Abou-iarass three iron croesls of peculiar
form, number q beads which lad belonged 10 a
rosary, and a pieSv Of inccnse-sA OF which were
found in removing the bricks used to buil,sthc
Pasha's palace and sther buildings N khartorsn.
The room in which an writing "a paved with
the same bricks. THESE remains are in curions
contrast with the pyraicids Of Mero6 and temples
Of Mesawoora,. The Christian and Egyptian
faiths, advancing towards each other, ALMOST ,aet
| ea these far fields.
The former kingdom Of SEMINAR included sAe
land between the two Niles-except the territory
Of the Shillooks-as far south as Lat. l2o. 1t Is
bounded by Abyssina on the east and by tie
mountains Of the savage Gala tribes ON the soath
The DJssesreh Nsland) ei Hoye, as the cou.,sy
between the rivers is called, is for the most part II
plain OF grass. Toward the south, there ore
some low ranges of hills, followed by other plains
| which extend to the unknown mountain county
and abound with elephants and IONS The town
of SEMINAR once the capital of this region and the
residence Of its Meks Kings, is of little i'm
! portance. Those who have been there describe
! it to 10 collection of mud huts, resembling
Shendy. The Egyptian rule extends ten days
| Journey further, to FazoI, where the fine timber
in the mountains and the collaborating sands Of
! Kasan occasion the establishment of military
post. SEMINAR, as well as Kordofn, Bcrber and
Dongola. is governed by Bey, appointed by the
Pasha of Soudan. 1t is only two weeks journey
thence to Gondar, the capital of Amhara, the
principal Abyssinian kingdom. | am told that il
is not difficult for merchants to visit the latter
place, but that any suspected of being per-
son of consequence is detained there and not al
lowed to leave again. have strong curiosity to
see something of byssinia and if were sure that
l should not be taken for person of consequence,
might make the attempt to reach Gondar.
Kortlofan hes west of the White Nile, and con-
sists entirely Of great plains of grass and thorns
except in the southern part, where there is
mountain range called Djebel Dyer inhabited by
emgrants from Dongola. 1t is not more than two
hundred miles in breadth, from east to west. Its
capital Obeid, lies in hat. l2' 10 N. and is a
mere collection Of m,sl huts. Mr.. Peterck, the
English Vice Consul for Soudan to whom | had
letters and dispatches from MIR. Murray, the Eng
lish Consul General in Cairo has taken up his re-
sidence in Obeid. TIE soil of Kordofan is sterile
and the water is considered very unhealthy fos
foreigners. Capt. Peel gave me sucha descrpsivr,
of its endless thickets of thorns, its miserable
population and its devastating fevers that have
no desire to visit it, The Governor, Abd-ei-Ka-
der Bey is here at present, and DIR. Reitz intends
making journey through the country in company
with him, in the course Of week or two. There
is caravan route os twenty days between Obeid
| and Dongola, through wild region called the
| Beyooda, or Bediuda. few degrees further
| north it would be barren desert, but here it is
an ternation Of radys, valleys, with ranges OF
porphyry MOUNTAINS aflording water, trees, and
| sufficient grass for the herds of the wandering
Arabs 1t is inhabited by two tribes-the Kabab
abish and the Howoweet, who are said to differ
strongly from the Arabs east of the Nile, in their
appearance and habits. Many Of the latter, and
especially the natives Of Oar Shygheea and Oar
Robatat in Southern Nabia, are descended from
tribes who originally emgrated from Hedjaez, in
Arabia. This fact accounts for their su perior in
telligence and their remarkable personal beauty
The tribes in the western desert are more allied
| to the savage tenants of the Great Zahara. The
caravans on this road are exposed to the danger
| of attacks from the negroes of DarFur, vino fire.
quently waylay small parties, murder the indiyd
uals and carry of the camels and goods.
The great kingdom Of Dar-Fur offers a rich field
| for some future explorer. 1t has never been en-
tered by European, and the extensive regions it
ncloses are supposed to furnish the key to the
system of rivers and mountain-chains of Central
Africa. Through the fear and jealousy of its
rulers, no stranger has hitherto been allowed to
pass its borders. Of late however, the relations
between the Egyptian rulers in Soudan and the
Sultan of Dar-Fur have been quite amicablc, and
if nothing occurs to disturb this harmony there is
some hope that the ban will be removed. Lattf
Pasha informed me that he had written to the
Sultan in behalf Of Capt. Peel, who wished to pass
through Dar-Fur and reach Bornou. He had as
vet received no answer, but an unofficial intima-
ton that the Sultan would reply, giving Capt
| Peel permission to enter the country and travel in
it, but not to pass beyond it. If this should prove
to be true, the Captain has lost, by his hasty
turn, a chance to distinguish himself and contri-
quite to the worlds knowledge. There is an al
most continual war between the i,sltans Of Bornou
and Dar-Fur, and the Pasha is OF the opinion that
it would be impossible to traverse Africa from
east to west, in the line Of those states.
A circumstance occurred lately, which may help
to open Dar-Fur to Europeans. The Stitch Lady,
Gowakin, the aunt of Sultan Adah, the present
monarch Of that kingdom, is a jealous Mosem, and
lately determined to make a pilgrimage to the
grave of the Prophet. She arrived here in August,
attended by large retinue of officers, attendants
and slaves, and after remaining few days descend
81 a IN Mekhevxef crossed the Desert