------------------------+------------------+------------------- | Intermediate. | From Halfa. +------+-----------+------+------------ |Miles.|Kilometres.|Miles.|Kilometres. ------------------------+------+-----------+------+------------ Faras Island | — | — | 20 | 32 | | | | Halfa Camp | 20 | 32 | — | — | | | | Foot of 2nd Cataract | 6½ | 10½ | 6½ | 10½ | | | | Head of „ „ | 6½ | 10½ | 13 | 21 | | | | Akasha | 72 | 116 | 85 | 137 | | | | Kosha | 28 | 45 | 113 | 182 | | | | Dalgo | 78 | 125 | 191 | 307 | | | | Kaibar Cataract | 12 | 19 | 203 | 325 | | | | Third (Hannek) Cataract | 26 | 42 | 229 | 368 | | | | Dongola | 51 | 82 | 280 | 450 | | | | Debba | 91 | 146 | 371 | 596 | | | | Korti | 45 | 72 | 416 | 668 | | | | Merowe | 31 | 50 | 447 | 719 ------------------------+------+-----------+------+------------ SECTION 2.—MEROWE TO KHARTOUM. SUB-SECTION (A). MEROWE TO ABU HAMED. The distinguishing feature of the river between Merowe and Abu Hamed is the difficulty of navigation, and also of communications along either bank. A variety of rapids, mostly impassable except at high Nile, form the 4th Cataract, which extends practically from Belal to Shirri, a distance of about 67 miles, whilst there are little or no cultivation or supplies, except in patches on either bank. This (Rapids) portion of the river was ascended in whale boats by most of the River Column in 1885, and the right bank was traversed by General Hunter’s flying column in 1897, when proceeding to attack Abu Hamed. Otherwise it is not now generally in use for communications,[25] owing to these obvious difficulties. A telegraph line now connects Merowe with Abu Hamed.