PHYSICAL AND POLITICAL FEATUEES. 



217 



the population, the more they break up into independent groups, never communi- 

 cating with each other except through the medium of occasional traders. JS^ever- 

 theless native states, become powerful by agriculture and commerce, have spruno- 

 up in this region, gradually extending the sphere of their influence over the 

 surrounding peoples. Thus was formerly founded, under the influence of the 

 Egyptian civilisation, the kingdom of Meroé, which comprised not only " the 

 island " bounded by the Astapus and Astaboras, but also the neighbouring 

 countries. After the introduction of Mohammedanism the kingdom of Senaar 

 was developed, which also exceeded the limits of its "island" or peninsula, between 

 the White and Blue Niles. But the position of Upper Nubia between the plateaux 



Fig. 72. — Routes of the Chief Explokers in Tak\ and Neighbouuing Distkicts. 



Scale 1 : 8,000,«X). 



Itineraries. 



B Btirkhardt, 1814. 



Rl. Riippell, m32. 



K. Katte, ISlf,. 



Ab. D'Abbadie. 1838-48. 



F. and G. Ferret and Galinier. 



W. Weme, 1840. 



Le. Lefebvrc, 1842. 



Caravan Routes. Telegi-aph Lines. 



Sa. S.ipeto. 1851. Bk. Baker, 1801. 



Hn. Hamilton, 1854. St. Steudner, 1861-6.3 



M. Munzinger, 1855-61-75. E. Ernst de Cobourg, 1862. 



C. Courval, 1857. L. Lejean, 1864. 



Hg:. Heuglin, ia57-61-62-64-76. K. Krockow, 1865. 



Be. Beurmann, 1860-63. S Schweinfurth, 1865-68. 



m. Hansal, 1861. Ha. Halévy, 1868. 



— ^____-__^^_ 120 Miles. 



Rp. Eeil, 1868. 



R. Rokeby, 1870-71. 



P. Front, 1S72. 



H. HUdebrandt, 1872 



J. Junker, 1876. 



Mi Mittehell, 18T7. 



Mil. MuUer, ISSO. 



of Abyssinia and the banks of the Nile belonging to Egypt makes it a natural 

 battlefield for the sovereigns of these two countries. For more than half a century 

 the Egyptians have occupied the intermediary zone, and in spite of their disastrous 

 conflicts with the Abyssinians, they appeared to have definitely conquered the 

 Sudan. But a formidable revolt, brought on by their exactions, has left them only 

 a few places in the country recently annexed to their vast domains, and they have 

 now been supplanted by the English on the coast. By the construction of routes 

 and railways the whole country will doubtless soon be restored to civilisation. In 

 virtue of the official proclamations addressed to all the inhabitants of the country 

 by the late General Gordon " in the name of the most high Khedive and the all- 



