or DARFUR, a country or kingdom of Africa, which has been visited by no other European traveller excepting Mr Browne. This country is of considerable extent, and in many places covered with wood. During the dry season, the appearance of the open country is sterile and barren, but when the rains commence, the dry sandy soil is soon changed into green fields covered with luxuriant vegetation. Considerable quantities of maize, sesame, beans, and legumes, are raised by the inhabitants for food. There are several species of trees in Darfoor; but the tamarind alone is valuable for its fruit, or rises to a considerable size. The date, which is diminutive, does not appear to be indigenous. Domestic animals are, the camel, the sheep, the goat, and horned cattle, which are numerous. Of the milk of the cow, some of the inhabitants make a kind of cheese, but the process is not generally known. The camel is of an inferior quality; and the horse and the ass are imported from Egypt and Nubia. Their wild animals are the lion, the leopard, the hyæna, the wolf, and the wild buffaloe. The termites, or white ant, abounds; and the cochineal insect is frequently met with, though it has never been applied to any useful purpose in Darfoor. The rocks are chiefly composed of gray granite, but in a few places alabaster and marble are found. Nitre is produced in considerable quantities, fossil salt is found in one district, and sulphur is collected by the pastoral Arabs on the south and west.

The principal towns in Darfoor, are Cobbe, the chief residence of the merchants, situated in N. Lat. 14. 11. Long. E. G. 28. 8. It is above two miles in length, but extremely narrow, containing numerous trees and vacant spaces within its boundaries. Sweini, which commands the northern road to Darfoor, is situated above two journeys to the north of Cobbe. Kourma, a small town, lies 12 or 13 miles to the south-west of Cobbe, and Cubcubia, two and a half journeys to the west. Cubcubia commands the western roads, and has a market twice in the week. Cours lies 14 or 15 miles to the north-west of Cobbe; Ril, about 60 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 Darfoor. Gidid, Gelle, and Shoba, are the only other remarkable towns. The villages are numerous, but their population seldom exceeds a few hundred inhabitants. The population of Darfoor is estimated by Browne at 200,000 persons. It consists of the native tribes of Far, of a deep black complexion, crisp'd 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 had settled tled in the country, while others wander on the frontiers, and are very numerous; and a number of emigrants, from the neighbouring states, particularly Dongola, Mahas, Sennar, and Cordofan. Besides these, Darfoor comprehends the inhabitants of various subordinate districts, that are sometimes dependant on Darfoor, and sometimes on the surrounding nations: as Dar Rugda, which is generally subject to Bergoo; Dar Berti, Bego, or Dageou, between Darfoor and Bergoo, the power of which formerly predominated over the Furian tribes; and Zeghawa, formerly an independent kingdom, that was accustomed to raise a thousand cavalry in war, the inhabitants of which are different in their features from the Negroes.

The dialect of Arabic which is vernacular in Darfoor, differs essentially from that spoken in Egypt. The native Furians are more cheerful in their dispositions than the Egyptians; but resemble the Moorish tribes in the violence of their passions, their disregard to truth, their inattention to cleanliness, and their inaccurate ideas of property. As the practice of polygamy is established, their intercourse with the other sex is regulated by no attention to delicacy or decency; and the precepts of Islamism are often infringed, by the relations of brother and sister being exchanged for a closer connection. The sex are, however, subjected to less restraint than in many Mahometan countries. The women appear in public unveiled, make bargains in the markets, and converse with the other sex, without offending their husbands or relations. The most severe labours of the field, and the meanest domestic offices, are performed by the women, who are often seen walking after their husbands, under the prelude of a heavy burden, while these ride before them on their asses, without incumbrance and without concern.

Their houses are built of clay, commonly by the hands of their women, and are covered with a flattish roof of thin boards, coated with clay. Salt is the general medium of exchange in Darfoor, but in some places, small tin rings of arbitrary value, are employed. A caravan passes from Darfoor to Egypt, to traffic in flaves, ivory, gum, camels, &c.; but this commercial intercourse is not regular, and is frequently interrupted. The Dongolese and Nubian settlers in Darfoor, who had been accustomed to the Egyptian trade, originally opened the route; but merchants are frequently interrupted by the Cubba-beth and Bedeiat Arabs; the last of whom are not supposed to be of Arabic origin. The king, or, as he is denominated, the sultan of Darfoor, reigns with absolute authority, and confers the same arbitrary power on his delegates in the provinces. Though the precepts of the Koran are the offenible rules of decision, in litigation, yet the verdict depends on the will of the judge; and, as none but ecclesiastics dare express their sentiments of his conduct, their opinion is the only check upon his caprice. These judges, however, display considerable ingenuity in developing the most intricate cases that occur in a nation versed in the arts of deceit.

The sultan's revenues consist in the taxes upon merchandise exported and imported; the annual tribute of live stock from the Arabs, and of corn from the towns and villages, with the amount of fines, forfeitures, and presents. The armies of Darfoor are not numerous, as 4000 troops are reckoned a formidable number; neither are these troops remarkable for skill, courage, or perseverance, though they endure hunger, thirst, and fatigue, with great resolution, and use no other camp equipage, but a light mat adapted to the size of the body. The troops of Darfoor, not actually engaged in war, are reviewed at an annual military festival, termed, The leathering of the kettle-drum, when presents are offered 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. Mahometanism began to prevail in Darfoor, in the reign of Solymon, of the Dageou race, who is supposed by Browne to have lived at some period between 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 deceased monarchs used to sit, and from that which obtains the preference, deduce an omen of his future character, which they suppose will resemble its former possessor.