- 97 -The rapid increase in gum arabic exports continues, and its price has risen to 311 piasters per kilogram, compared to 243 piasters the previous year. Gum arabic trade is now flourishing throughout the country.

Regarding cotton, the 1910-1911 harvest was below average. However, the value of cotton and seed exports increased, reaching £273,339 Egyptian pounds, compared to £151,233 Egyptian pounds previously. The success of cotton cultivation is evident, and the government is highly interested in it and will exert its utmost effort to expand its cultivation.

Millet exports reached 17,147 tons, a decrease of 799 tons from 1910 exports. It appears that the locals have not forgotten the famine days during the Mahdist rule and are still hesitant to sell their grain.

19,373 head of cattle and 836,535 sheep were exported by the end of November, an increase of 15,123 and 319,448 respectively from 1910 exports. The expansion of this trade will be facilitated by the railway line to El Obeid. The rapid growth of the cattle trade has led to requests to the government for the establishment of separate cold storage facilities for meat.

The development of wheat cultivation and trade depends on the existence of markets for its sale in Egypt or foreign countries.

The ostrich feather trade continues to decline and is unlikely to revive unless taken up by experienced individuals.

74,961 kilograms of ivory were exported, compared to 64,706 kilograms in 1910.

The government has granted a concession for wild rubber exploration in Bahr el Ghazal, and samples of Sudanese rubber have been obtained at encouraging prices.

Customs revenue from the beginning of 1911 to the end of September indicates a significant increase in the country's general trade, as shown in the following figures: * See chapter on Agriculture and Lands.