Includes bibliographical references and index.

Illustrations -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Part I. The king of the Nubian Muslims -- The king of the Nubian Muslims -- The court - - The Funj -- The nobility -- The bureaucracy -- The subjects -- Exchan ge -- "Kings of sun and shadow" -- Part II. The principles of the Arabs -- The principles of the Arabs -- The enclaves -- The warlords -- The hamaj -- The family incorporated -- Vampires of the borderlands -- Part III. To the fire -- To the fire -- The days of Muhammad abu Likaylik - - The days of king Adlan -- The regency, 1785-1803 -- The sundering of the tribes -- The days of Lord Tayfara -- The man on horseback -- Notes -- Bibliography.