mr browne's journey. 
405 
found. Nitre is produced in considerable quanti- 
ties ; fossile salt is found in one district, and sul- 
phur is collected by the pastoral Arabs on the S. 
and W. The principal towns in Darfur are 
Cobbe, the chief residence of the merchants, situ- 
ated in N. L. 14° 11' long. K Gr. 28° 8'. It is 
above two miles in length, but extremely narrow, 
containing numerous trees and vacant spaces with- 
in its boundaries. Sweini, which commands the 
northern road to Darfur, is situated above two 
journeys to the north of Cobbe. Kourma, a small 
town, lies twelve or thirteen miles to the south-west 
of Cobbe, and Cubcubia, two and an half journeys 
to the west. Cubcubia commands the western roads, 
and has a market twice in the week. Cours lies 
fourteen or fifteen miles to the north-west of Cobbe ; 
Ril, about sixty miles to the south-east of Cobbe, 
is situated in a fertile plain, commands the south- 
ern and eastern roads, and was formerly the resi- 
dence of the kings of Darfur. Gidid, Gelle, and 
Shoba, are the only other remarkable towns. The 
villages are numerous, but their population seldom 
exceeds a few hundred inhabitants. The popula- 
tion of Darfur is estimated by Browne at 200,000 
persons. It consists of the native tribes of Fur, of 
a deep black complexion, crisped woolly hair, and 
features different from those of the negroes ; Arabs 
of the tribes of Mahmid, Mahrea, Beni Fesara, 
Beni Gerar, &c. some of whom have settled in the 
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