PHYSICAL FEATUEES. 



273 



extremity, it bears the name of Kerakeri, which signifies " rubbish," or " rabbit- 

 burrow," which term has been procured for it by the thousands of crimibling blocks 

 covering its slopes. 



At the highest point, which is crossed by the route from "Wadai to El-Fasher, 

 Nachtigal determined an approximate height of 3,553 feet, which the neighbour- 

 ing summits exceed by from 500 to 1,000 feet. During their short occupation of 

 the country the officers of the Egyptian army, notably Mason, Purdy, and Messe- 

 daglia, partially explored the interior of the uplands, measuring some of the crests 

 which overlook the rest of the lofty granite masses. One of them, that of Tura. 



Fig. 88. — Central Eegion of Dak-Fôk. 

 Scale 1 : 4,400.000. 



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ZOSji-TfTA^ 





w 



OAH EU'-GHARB 



' "J<v 



sKobé 





■^ ■) iff -^ 





■y ^fi 





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5-.%' 



^"ï 



15' 



E . of Gr 



60 Miles. 



in the northern part of the chain, rises to a height of 4,800 feet. According to 

 Mason, the culminating point of the Marrah range attains an altitude of 6,100 

 feet, or about 2,660 feet above the low-lying plains of Dar-Fôr. The rocks of 

 Marrah contain numerous caverns, several of which formerly served as prisons, 

 some for the sons of princes, others for the viziers. 



To the north and south are secondary chains and isolated masses like those of 

 Kordofân. Such .are the superb Gurger Mountains to the north-west, and the 

 Jebel-Si, standing quite alone in the plain and terminated by an enormous crag in 

 the shape of a throne. A village is perched round these escarpments, protected by 



18— AF. 



