SENNAAR, one of the divisions of Nubia in east ern Africa, is bounded by Abyssinia on the east and south, on the west by Darfur, and on the north by Dongola and the independent districts of Nubia. The part of Sennaar between the Nile and the river Ta cazze formed what was called by the ancients the Island of 1\leroe.
The kingdom of Sennaar was founded in 1504 by a body of Shillock negroes. It has three principal go vernments tributary to it, viz. El-aice or Alleis, Kor dofur, and Fazuclo.
El-aice, including the original country of the Shil lock Negroes. The Bahr-el-abiad spreads itself over the territory, and by a great number of small chan nels it forms numerous little islands, on each of which is a village, the union of which constitutes the town of El-aice. The inhabitants, being all fishermen, pos sess a number of boats like canoes, in which they sail up and down to the cataracts. It was by means of these boats that the Shillock Negroes succeeded in conquering the Arabs in 1504.
Kordofan is next in importance to El-aice. The revenue consists chiefly in the slaves which are pro cured from Dyre and Tegla. Being nearest to Dar fur, it has often been taken from Sennaar and re taken.
Fazuclo is bounded on the west by the river El-aice, and on the cast by the Nile, and on the south by the mountains of Fazuclo, where the great cataracts are. The greater part of the revenue of Fazuclo is derived from gold obtained from the mountains.
The territory of Sennaar is remarkably fertile to a considerable distance from the banks of the river. In the rainy season, about the end of August, the appear ance is delightful, the corn springs lip, and the whole country appears a level green park, interspersed with lakes,and decorated with groups of villages. Through this immense plain flows the Nile, above a mile broad and full to the very brim. Upon the cessation of the rains the Dhourra ripens, the lakes become putrid and lull of vermin, and poisonous winds, and burning sands, and sultry blasts desolate the plain.
The principal places are Sennaar the capital, and Halfaia, a large, handsome, and pleasant town, built with clay, in north let. 15° 45' 54", and cast by 32° 49' 15". The houses are terraced at the top, and are about 300 in number. It stands upon a large circular peninsula, and surrounded by the Nile, which is about half a mile from the town. It derives its principal support from a manufacture of coarse cotton cloths, which serve for small money throughout the lower parts of Atbara. The people cat cats, and also the sea horse and crocodile. Their salt is extracted from the earth. Aira is another place about three or four miles from Sennaar; it is surrounded with white sand which is sown with millet. Shaddly, about twelve
miles to the north north west of Sennaar, is a collection of villages; it received its name from a saint, who di rected large pits to be dug, and plastered closely up with clay, for the purpose of being filled with grain when it was cheapest. These pits, called matamores, were plastered up at top. They occur in great num bers throughout the plain, and when there is any pros pect of corn growing dear, they are opened, and the corn sold at a low price. About 24 miles to the north of Shaddly, is another more extensive establishment of the same kind, called Wed-abottd.
To the westward of Shaddly and Aboud, as far as the Abiad or El-aice, the country is covered with trees, which makes it an excellent station for camels. Near Shaddly are two mountain districts, viz. Jibbel Moia, or the mountains of water, and Jibbel-Segod, or the Gold Mountains; the first is a considerable ridge of hills closely united and of the same height, and the second is a broken ridge, unequal and irregu lar. They are full of inhabitants, who enjoy a fine climate.
The dress of the people of Sennaar consists of a long shirt of blue cotton cloth, which reaches to the feet, and the only difference between that of the men and women is, that the men have the neck left bare, while the others have a shirt neck, which is buttoned like ours. Both men and women go barefooted in the house. They anoint themselves, at least once a day, with camels' grease, mixed with civet, and they sleep all night upon a bull's hide, and in a shirt dipped in grease.
Bread of flour or millet, is the diet of the poorer sort. The horned cattle are the largest and finest in the world, and are very fine, but camels' flesh is the common meat sold in the market. The liver of the camel, and the spare rib are universally eaten raw. Hogs' flesh, though not sold in the market, is licly eaten.
Dysenteries, intermittent fever, epileptic and scirr hous livers are the principal diseases. The small pox is sometimes 12 or 15 years absent. They have a process of inoculation called buying the small pox.
The county has very little trade; the principal arti cle of consumption is the blue cotton cloth from Surat. Their commerce consists chiefly in exchang ing the productions of the interior of Africa with those of Arabia and Egypt. The articles from Africa are gold dust called 'ribber, civet, Rhinoceros' horns, ivory, ostriches' feathers, glass and slaves. The gold is deemed the finest and best in Africa. They receive also spices, hardware, and toys, par ticularly black beads from Venice.