DESCRIPTION OF DARFUR. 
417 
white ants, abound ; and the cochineal insect is 
frequently met with, though it has never been ap- 
plied to any useful purpose in Darfur. The rocks 
are chiefly composed of grey granite, but in a few 
places alabaster and marble are found. Nitre is 
produced in considerable quantities ; fossile salt 
is found in one district, and sulphur is collected 
by the pastoral Arabs on the S. and W. The 
principal towns in Darfur are Cobbe, the chief 
residence of the merchants, situated in N. L. l^"^ 
11' long. E. Gr. ^8° 8^ It is above two miles in 
length, but extremely narrow, containing nume- 
rous trees and vacant spaces within 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 southern 
and eastern roads, and was formerly the residence 
of the kings of Darfur. Gidid, Gelle, and Shoba, 
are the only other remarkable towns. The vil- 
lages are numerous, but their population seldom 
exceeds a few hundred inhabitants. The popula- 
tion of Darfur is estimated by Browne at ^00,000 
VOL. I, D d 
