50 (No. 98 HISTORY tory by serious military operations lasting from April 1917 to February 1918. Upper Nile. - Called Fashodadown to 1903. Capital moved in May 1914 from Kodok to Malakal. Its southern portion became Mongalla province in 1906 .

In both this and Mongalla province communications, owing to climate, rains, and swamps, are difficult both toopen up and to keep open . The history of Upper Nile province is mainly that of the Shilluk,Dinka ,and Nuer peoples' and the Government's relations with them . The Shilluk have given little trouble. Mek Yor was deposed in 1903, and removed to Wadi Halfa . His successor, Mek Fadiat, was loyal to his death on February 6, 1917. A bare majority of the votes of the five tribal chiefs , amid much excitement, then elected Mek Farfidi, when only the presence of a Government force prevented bloodshed . Some small Shilluk disturbances occurred in 1911 ( caused by the regulations forbidding the slaughter of elephant herds by means of grass fires ), in 1915 , and in 1916 . The Dinka have been both quarrelsome and lazy, especially the Khor Filus Dinka , who had to be com pelled to pay their head tax in 1909. The Nuer, who form halfthe population and occupy half the province , have from thefirst been a difficult problem , the despair of the Governor, and still so remain . Savage , warlike, and suspicious, they have fought continually among themselves and with their neighbours. The Gaweir Nuer on the Bahr el-Zeraf gave much trouble in 1913 and 1914 , but in 1916 paid their tribute . Punitive patrols were despatched against the Lau and the Garjak Nuer in 1917, both being old rebels against the Government. The Nuer country is one of the problems of the future. Financially the province has made good progress , showing a surplus first in 1911 , which was more than doubled in 1912.

Mongalla . - Created in 1906. The military Sobat > > 1 See above, p. 39.