109 <'1 " - 'Si C—-t 3 The Eailways Department has recently carried out some tanning experiments satisfactorily, but apart from this all tanning is done by native methods.

Some experimental shipments have been made by the Torests Department of a tanning material consisting of powdered grains of sunt pods (Acacia Arabica).

It is to be hoped that in the course of time the existence of the necessary raw material in the Soudan will lead to the introduction of capital into the tanning industry enabling it to be carried on on up-to-date lines.

1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 Millet {Dura).

Tons.

2,080 532 46,117 56,784 84,779 54,945 1,656 The amount of millet exported varies, of course, with the harvest, which depends •on an uncertain rainfall. Nevertheless, by means of special arrangements much larger quantities were exported during the war to meet the demands in Egypt and Palestine than would have been made available in normal years.

In 1915 and 1916 the Soudan exported 46,000 tons of food grains to Arabia and 40,000 to Eritrea. In 1917 and 1918 they were reduced to 14,000 and 13,000 respectively, owing to the fact that from 1917 onwards Egypt had to be given priority of claim on all surplus foodstuffs that the Soudan could produce.

Gum Arabic and' Ivory.

Gum arabic is the only Soudan product in which Germany had a direct interest before the war. Great Britain now has the largest share in the trade. In 1918 Great Britain imported 8,000 tons, the United States 2,600, Erance 1,500, and other •countries 4,000 tons. The following table shows the total quantity of gum and ivory exported since 1913 Year. Ivory.

1913 19M 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 • • • • • • Kantars.

336,728 275,375 258,519 299,563 369,639 363,787 344,652 Kantars.

2,792 2,054 1,341 1,741 1,389 872 1,105 It will be of interest to compare the volume of this trade with that which existed prior to the Dervish rebellion. The following figures are taken from the well-known report of Colonel Stewart;— Gum Exported.

Kantars. 1879 ... 1880 ... 1881 ...

... 144,706 ... 135,646 ... 150,861 The amount of gum exported in 1919 was therefore about 194,000 kantars in •excess of the largest amount exported in the years which immediately preceded the. rebellion.

Supplies of ivory appear to be falling off. Prices have recently risen to the very high figure of £140 per kantar (45 kilog).

House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.