| | | | | | | | | |The rate of the hamla has | | | | |been taken at 2½ to 3 miles | | | | |per hour, as, I think, my | | | | |camels went. Neither times | | | | |nor distances, therefore, | | | | |can be relied on absolutely. ---------+--------+------+--------+------+---------------------------- 2.—SUAKIN TO BERBER. [Sidenote: Roads.] There are two main routes between Suakin and Berber, both joining at Obak. The first, _viâ_ Tambuk—Dissibil—Kokreb—Ariab and Obak, the most northerly of the two, is the usual caravan route. Major Prout (1877) states that “this route is quite practicable for wagons, the greater part of it being indeed an admirable road for wheels; some difficulty would, however, be found in getting wagons over the passes of Hareitri and Kokreb, and the dunes of Obak. At these three points some work, not much, but rather expensive, would have to be done to make the route a good wagon road.” The chief difficulty lies in the arid stretch of 114 miles between Ariab and Berber, for which Obak, lying about halfway, provides the only water. The second route, _viâ_ Sinkat—Hormareb—Amet—Rowaya and Obak is 5 or 6 miles shorter, but not so well known. It is occasionally used by caravans, but although the water supply is good, the road is bad about Sinkat. (α) NORTHERLY ROUTE.[2] MAJOR W. S. SPARKES, OCTOBER, 1897, AND DECEMBER AND JANUARY, 1897-98.