Browne's journey. 
Darfur are not numerous, as 4000 troops are 
reckoned a formidable number ; neither are these 
troops remarkable for skill, courage, or persever- 
ance, though they endure hunger, thirst, and fa- 
tigue, with great resolution, and use no other 
camp-equipage but a light mat adapted to the size 
of the body. The troops of Darfur, not actually 
engaged in war, are reviewed at an annual mili- 
tary festival, termed. The leathering of the hettle- 
drum^ when presents are presented to the sovereign 
by all the principal people of the country, and 
various superstitious ceremonies are performed, 
among which are the sacrifice of a young boy and 
a girl. Various superstitious opinions are blended 
with the Mahometanism of the Furian tribes. 
The mountaineers sacrifice to the deity of the 
mountains in order to procure rain. Mahome- 
tanism began to prevail in Darfur in the reign of 
Solyman, of the Dageou race, who is supposed 
by Browne to have lived at some period be- 
tween 130 and 150 years ago. The Dageou race 
are reported to have been originally expelled from 
the vicinity of Tunis, and to have resigned the 
sceptre to the race of Fur, after being exhausted 
by intestine dissensions. At the inauguration of 
every king, they are said to have kindled a fire, 
which was preserved burning till his death. At the 
accession of a sultan, the present Furians spread 
before him various carpets, on which their deceas- 
