74 [No. 98 ECONOMIC CONDITIONS .

The Blue Nile begins to rise about the end of May, and becomes navigable about June 20, by which time its waters have become reddish brown in colour owing to the large quantity of alluvium held in suspension.

( iii) Of the Main Nile, the part of the river between Khartum and the sea, the Sudanese section is about 950 miles in length. For the first section, between Khartum and Abu Hamed , a distance of about 330 miles, the river flows in a northerly direction, passing Metemma (left bank ) opposite Shendi, Meroe and its pyramids ( right bank ), and El Damer ( right bank ), formerly celebrated as a centre of learning. A little lower, 200 miles north of Khartum , is the confluence of the Atbara . This river rises in Abyssinia, has a course of about 100 miles before entering the Sudan, and flows 460 miles farther before joining the Nile. For 170 miles of its course, up to Goz Abu Rejeb, the Atbara is navigable in flood time, but navigation is dangerous on account of the timber which is floated down. The width of the bed at the confluence is 400 yds. , and the river is there spanned by an iron bridge of the Khartum - Halfa railway.

Beyond the confluence of the Atbara the Nile passes Berber ( right bank) and is interrupted by the El Bagara rapid . The river changes its direction at Abu Hamed and flows south -west to Korti , 179 miles , passing Merowe (Merawi) (left bank ) , which , though the headquarters of the Dongola province and the resi dence of the Governor, consists ofabout 30 houses only .

The river then turns west to Debba, 45 miles , then north past Khandak ( left bank ) to Dongola , 90 miles from Debba, and to Kerma , 34 miles lower, and finally north -east for 246 miles to the town of Halfa (Wadi Halfa ) . In this last section there are many ancient tombs and temples on both banks . The total distance from Abu Hamed to Halfa by river is 595 miles, whereas by rail or caravan across the desert it is only 232 miles . The Nile leaves the Sudan at Sarra (right