278 NORTH-EAST AFEICA. 



terms can be used in connection with a people who have scarcely emerged from 

 barbarism, are reduced to a study of the Koran. A few magical practices, probably 

 of African origin, are mingled with the Arab traditions ; and even during this 

 century human sacrifices were made at the chief royal ceremonies. On the 

 accession of every sovereign, and on other occasions, two young brothers were 

 sacrificed with great pomp, and the king with his high functionaries feasted on 

 their flesh. 



Agriculture is still in a very rudimentary state, their plough consisting of a 

 kind of hoe which a man drags after him. But this occupation is, nevertheless, 

 highly honoured. Formerly the sultan of Dar-Fôr, like the king of the Funj in 

 Senâr, the emperor of China, and other sovereigns, was extremely proud of being 

 the first sower in his kingdom. After the rains he went forth in great pomp, 

 accompanied by the State dignitaries and a hundred young and handsome women, 

 and cast the seed into a prepared field, ail the courtiers imitating him. Then the 

 people sowed in their turn each in his own field, and when the harvest recom- 

 pensed his toil, the faithful subject offered up his homage to the " royal farmer." 



Nearly all the mountain region is perfectly cultivated in terraces, and produces 

 cereals and cotton. But according to Ensor, at most a hundredth part of the 

 arable lands on the plains has been reclaimed. Industries in Dar-Fôr are still in 

 a very undeveloped state, except those of brickwork and pottery. But the cotton 

 stuifs that are woven in the tents are verj'' durable and much sought after. By 

 the natives they are even preferred to those sold by the Dongola merchants, which 

 are of European or American manufacture. These latter are generally used as 

 money, but salt bricks are also employed as a means of exchange. 



Commercial Relations. 



Since the annexation of Dar-Fôr to the vast Egyptian possessions, commercial 

 relations had become frequent with the Nile. The caravans frequently journeyed 

 between the river and El-Fasher by the market-towns of Kordofân, or else directly 

 towards Dabbeh, on the great bend of the river. Since 1875 the Egyptian 

 Government has even projected a future Kne of railway following the natural 

 route offered by the bed of the Wady-Melek, which is generally shunned by the 

 caravans on account of the danger of attack from marauders. Before the 

 Egyptian conquest, nearly all the traific of Dar-Fôr with the rest of the world 

 was conducted by the medium of the " great caravan," which was increased by 

 numerous smaller " kafilahs," setting out from the banks of the Tsad and Niger. 



Every year, or else every two or three years, according to the poKtical situation 

 and the state of the markets, the Takrur pilgrims banded themselves together into 

 a kaiilah in northern Dar-Fôr, and the merchants combined with them in order to 

 take part at once in this pious duty and in a profitable work. The great caravan 

 consisted occasionally of some thousands of persons and fifteen thousand camels. 

 This moving army, which none of the pillaging steppe tribes dared to attack, did 



