119 province dissimilar from all others in the country. At the same time the facts that the greater part of the business of the country centres in these towns, and that there is a greater body of intelligent and instructed opinion here than elsewhere, render the material conditions and the state of feelii in these three places a very fair index of the situation in the country generally. The Governor writes most hopefully of the general tone and prosperity of the capital in the year immediately following the war.

The revenue has been more than doubled since 1914:, and a large part of the increase has been due to the traders tax, a certain indication of the increased commercial activity which the war brought to the Soudan.

On the other hand the difficulty in obtaining supplies of dura has caused possibly more anxiety at Kliartoum than elsewhere. The agricultural districts have for the most part been able to supplv their own needs and export their surplus, but in Khartoum the whole food supply has had to be purchased. In this connection the supply of dura purchased by Government from the British army in Palestine during 1919, and distributed at a fair price under Government supervision, greatly helped to relieve the situation.

22. Kordofan.

The chief products of this province ai-e gum, cattle, sheep, grain (millet and " dukhn ”) and sesame. There has been a demand and an increase of price for all these commodities (except gum), which has resulted in a state of prosperity never before approached. The actual production of gum was greater than in previous years, but as the price was much lower this year the revenue (which is taken as an ad mlorem royalty) was much less, being £E. 58,000 as against £E. 80,000 in 1918.

The number of cattle listed for taxation was over 1,200,000. The sale in El Obeid, the chief town, reached the figure of over 17,000 cattle and 37,000 sheep, while it is estimated that 10,000 cattle and 80,000 sheep went from the province direct to Omdurman market.

About 4,600 tons of “ dukhn,” 3,400 tons of sesame, and nearly a thousand tons of ground nuts, were exported from the Province.

The chief drawback to development in Kordofan is lack of water. The cattle and sheep trade natui’ally depends for its existence on this vital factor. Every well in the province is crowded to its utmost capacity and the revenue cannot continue to increase, as it has done in the past, unless more water can be found. Moreover, with overcrowding of herds on the wells the danger from contagious diseases becomes greater. A beginning has been made with a well-boring scheme this year, and three successful wells have been sunk in El Obeid with results that were of inestimable value in view of the fact that the water supply otherwise was shorter than it had ever been. Funds for an extension of the scheme are being provided in the 1920 Budget.

23. Mongalla.

The outstanding event in this province during 1919 was the lamentable mishap; by which the Governor, Major C. H. Stigand, and the Officer Commanding the District, Major P. F. White, D.S.O., lost their lives in the course of operations against the Aliab section of the Dinka tribe.

For causes which have not yet been sufficiently explained, the Aliab had last summer adopted an aggressive attitude towards the Government. A number of telegraph linesmen were murdered, and finally the small police post in the district was attacked and burnt.

In November a force of four companies of the Equatorial battalion was despatched, under Major R. F. White, DB.O., (Essex RegimenD to undertake punitive measures. The column was accompanied by Major C. H. Stigand, O.B.E. (Royal West Kent Regiment), the Governor of the province as political officer. The enemy were encountered on one or two occasions and severe casualties were inflicted on them.

On the 8th December the column was proceeding in square formation through long grass when it was suddenly attacked by a force of over a thousand native spearmen, some of whom penetrated the square oefore the attack could be repulsed.

Our casualties were Majors Stigand and White and a Soudanese officer killed, twenty-four men. killed, and thirty-two wounded. Enemy casualties were heavy. The column then returned to its base.

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