39. L This work, the benefits of which are appreciated by the natives, has steadily increased, as is shown by the returns' of deeds registered and fees taken during the last six years, namely ;— 1914. 1915. 191G. 1917. 1918. 1919.

Deeds registered Fees received £ 4,955 2,447 3,337 1,860 2,558 1,483 4,063 3,420 3,619 8,197 3,994 3,964 40. L Apart from war proclamations and ordinances relating to contraband of war, trading with the enemy, martial law, &c., the chief ordinances of the period 1914-1919' were as follows :— The Soudan Guaranteed Loan Ordinance, 1913. The Native Liquors Ordinance, 1914. The Customs (Duty on Alcoholic Beverages) Ordinance, 1914. The Foodstuffs and Necessaries (Regulation of Prices) Ordinance, 1914. The Government Town Lands (Native Occupation) Ordinance, 1914. The Courts Ordinance, 1915. The Civil Justice (Arrest and Attachment) Ordinance, 1916. The Fugitive Offenders- Ordinance, 1915. The Soian Non-Mohammedan Marriage Ordinance, 1915. The Soudan Guaranteed Loan Ordinance, 1915. The Harboutr and Shipping Ordinance, 1916. The Bankruptcy Ordinance, 1916. The Land Acquisition (Amendment) Ordinance, 1916. The Locusts Destruction (Amendment) Ordinance, 1916. Tlie Darfur Laws Ordinance, 1917. The Bills of Exchange Ordinance, 1917. The Pre-emption Ordinance, 1918. The Coinage Ordinance, 1918. The Native Disposition of Lands Restriction Ordinance, 1918. The House Tax Ordinance, 1918. The Soudan Guaranteed Loan Ordinance, 1919. The Governor General’s Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 1919. The Soudan Government Pension Ordinance, 1919. The Auctioneers, Brokers and Pedlars Ordinance, 1919. The Agricultural Pests Ordinance, 1919. The Local Taxation Ordinance, 1919.

As in other countries it has been found necessary to continue some war legislation, e.y., as to prices, into times of peace.

The proclamation of martial law was made in November 1914; it was not designed to supersede nor did it supersede the ordinary law, but merely afforded some assistance in dealing with censorship, alien enemies, persons trading with or suspected of trafficking with the enemy and deporting or interning undesirables.

41. M The most important event here has been the transfer to Egypt in 1919 of Sheikh Mohamed Mustafa El-Mai-aghi, for eleven years Grand Kadi, whose zeal, tact, energy and fair-mindedness have Been invaluable, and who always most loyally co-operated with his chief and the Government The business of the Courts stiU steadily increases, and it is conducted with increased efficiency, as the more ignorant and old-fashioned kadis gradually dissappear and better-trained ones replace them. This has been facilitated by the consent of the Egyptian authorities to these old gentlemen being given pensions, though more than 35 years of age when they entered the service.

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