Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-08
THE WAR PRIMER
By National Geographic Society

Darfur-The rebellion in DarfuFs the
most westerly state of the Anglo
Egyptian Sudan, which WAS recently
suppressed by British troops, has at
tracted the attention of the world to a
section of Africa that up 70 the clos
ing years Of the 1Stn century had
never been visited by white traveller.
The National Geographic Society, in
war geography bulletin, gives some
interesting data concerning this land
which has an area about equal to that
of the State of Montana but with a
population almost twice as large as
the American commonwealth. The
bulletin says:
1T was more than quarter of a
century ago that Germany and Italy
recognized the State of Darfur, south
of Egypt, as within the sphere of Brio
ish influence, ami 20 years ago it was
made a part of the Anglo Egyptian
Sudan, but the internal affairs of the
region were left to the administration
of the sultan, Ali Dinar, who a few
days ago was killed by a British force
of 600 men sent out to quel the rebel
lion which this ruler had fcmen+ed
for several months.
'Darfur, which derives its name
blouse of F'urs) from the negro tribe
of F'urs comprising more than half of
its population of 10000, was for many
years famous for the slaves which it
IuIllSHSu To Ley pl anu the western
world, an annual caravan being or
ganiZed to carry the human chattc!s
together with ivory, gum and ostrich
feathers to Assiut, 25e miles south of
Cairo.
in connection with Darfur's slave
trade the following interesting anec-
dote is told: At the time of Napoleon's
campaign in Egypt the sultan of Oar
fur was Abd-ec-Rahman, surnamed
the Just great grardfathe of the re-
Gently slain Ali Dinar. This sultan
sent a letter of C0n@-ratulation to the
French con 1uerer applauding his vic
tory over the Mamelukes, whereupon,
his attention being directed to the
monarch far to the south. Napoleon
replied with request for more sub
stantial evidence of the sultans good
wishes, in the form of 1000 youthful
slaves.
"Abd- Rahman, an able ruler, was
succeeded by his son Mahonlmed- ell
F'adhl who died of leprosy, bequeath-
ing his power to Nfahommed Hassin,
one of his forty sons. 1t was during
the reign of Hassin's youngest son
1brahim. that the l:hedive Of Egypt
made war on the Darfurians. Ib:a-
him was slain in battle and his king
dom annXed to Egypt, the royal family
| being removed to Cairo, in 1875
Eight years later the country fell I'm
der the sway OF MohaInmed Ahmed
| the MahdI who slew General Gordon
| and his men at Khartum. While the
| Mahdi was all-powerful in this part OF
| Africa Ali Dinar. the future sultan
was held prisoner at Omdurman
across the Nile from Khartum. ,blt
! upon the formers death the Dartul
| royal family was restored to power
and up to the recent rebellion the
country had enjoyed comparative
peace All Dinar plying an annual Fri
| butte of $4,000 to the Sudan govern
| rnent.
/ "Darfur !s .raversed from northeast
| to southwest by a range of volcanic
mountains, while the eastern and
western edges OF the land arc sandy
and non productive. There are mum.
| erov- fertile valleys In the mountain
| Gus section, however, where eottar
and tobacco are indigenous. and whore
| considerable wheat is grown, Cattle
| raising has been the chief occupation
of the natives. however, Since thu
aboiisiinaent of the slave traffic, Til.
chief exports of the country eentfKu,
to be feathers, ivory and Guns.
THE capital of I,arfur is FL flasher
a town of 10000 inha bitants situated
about 500 miles southwest of Khaf
tum. It was founded BY Adder Raj
man and is, in the main. a collection
of straw huts, although there are an,
or two buildings of some size. incIud
ine the sa'ltaIa's residence -