121 Commujiications and water supply require attention. Roads are a great expense because the rainy season destroys all work that is not of a permanent character.

25. Red Sea. This province has been administered during the absence of Colonel C. E. Wilson, C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O., on special duty at Jeddah, by Mr. J. C. Matthew, the senior inspector.

Direct shipping to Port Soudan has been generally resumed, and little difficulty is now experienced in getting stores and material by tnis route.

The erection by the Asiatic Petroleum Company of storage tanks for liquid fuel will be of further advantage to shipping in the Red Sea; thanks to the deep water alongside the quays, bunkering either with coal or liquid fuel is quickly and easily effected.

Homeward freights have been forthcoming and there is no congestion of goods awaiting export.

The cost of working the harbour now exceeds the revenue, owing to the rise in wages, and it will be necessary to increase the charges, as has been done in other poi’ts. No increase was made during the war.

Tokar. The cotton season, ] 918-19, was a disappointing one, and the crop smaller than any since the 1915-16 season.

The irrigation of the area cultivated is obtained by the annual flooding of the Khor Baraka. The problem of utilising the flood to the best advantage has been referred to in the section dealing with agriculture.

The Egyptian Irrigation Department have been consulted with a view to producing a comprehensive scheme, and an irrigation official is at present studying the site.

The nomad tribes are evidently wealthy, having benefited by the high prices obtaining for cattle and camels. It has been difficult owing to shortness oi staff, to bring these tribes into touch with the Government. A distinct improvement in this respect has been effected by decentralising the collection of tribute, &c., from the headquarters of the province to the several districts. Their nomad habits and independence of control in the past have rendered it easy for them in many instances to evade or postpone the payment of their taxes. This condition will not be satisfactorily improved until it is possible to increase the number of British inspectors; meanwhile a police post has been put into the country of the Gemilab tribe to the south of the province, perhaps the least amenable to Government influence of aU these nomad tribes.

The province continues to be one of the main channels for African Mohammedans proceeding on pilgrimage to the Holy Places in the Hedjaz. Over 4,000 passed through in 1919. As the province does not produce grain in large quantities, the suply of food for the urban populations became a serious question this year, but the situation was relieved by the apportionment to this province of dura purchased from the British army in llgypt.

The patrol of the coast to prevent gun and slave running has been the subject of some discussion this year. It is hoped that some measure of control from the sea may be introduced. I'he present land patrol is not ineffective, but owing to the nature of the country it is very hard »to maintain. A naval reconnaissance visited the coast in July this year and has made recommendations.

26.- Sennar Province. The Governor reports that the prosperity which existed during the early part of the war was seriously diminished in 1919 by a combination of such circumstances as poor crops, high prices of necessaries, indinerent grazing and cattle plague.

The quantity of grain available was barely sufficient, and its distribution and sale had to be very carefully supervised. Actual famine was avoided, but there was undoubtedly hardship.

Public security was threatened in May by a fanatical outbreak on the part of a certain Mohammed Sayid Hamid, a nephew oi the well-known Mahdi. He had been [3437 2/—2] R House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.