Dar-Fûr

Dar-Fûr, a country of Central Africa, one of the divisions of the Sûdân or 'Land of the Blacks,' situated approximately in 10° to 16° N. lat., and in 22° to 28° E. long.; but its limits are not clearly defined. It is hilly in parts, and traversed by a mountainous ridge called Marra, which is the source of numerous streams. Towards the north it is level, sandy, and almost destitute of water. During the rainy season (June–September) it exhibits a rich vegetation. The principal products are wheat, millet, rice, maize, and sesame. Tobacco, which is used by the natives in every form, abounds. Water-melons, also, are abundant during the rainy season. Among the fruits are tamarinds and dates. The chief minerals are copper and iron. The wealth of the inhabitants consists principally in cattle. Horses, sheep, camels, and game abound. The 3,000,000 or so of inhabitants are mainly Fulahs (q.v.). Dar-Fâr, long a centre of the slave-trade, was annexed to Egypt in 1874-75, but suffered with the rest of the Soudan from the desolating tyranny of the Mahdi (q.v.) and his successor the Khalifa, till the defeat of the latter in 1898. By the treaties with Germany and Italy in 1890-91, and with France in 1899, it is recognised as part of the Egyptian Soudan and under British influence. See EGYPT, SOUDAN.