— 17 —

Rental Values.—Peacock* states that the average area of ownerships in

Mesellemia district, a typical rain-farming centre, is about five " gadaas," or

25 feddans (27^ acres), and " it is probable that, according to the present methods

of cultivation, this is the economic holding of the district." Figures relating

to sales and mortgages of rain-land, collected since 1898, give an average value

of land of rather more than 500 milliemest the gadaa (100 milliemes, or 2s. Id. the

feddan), while the mortgage value is not much less. " The usual custom

between owner and cultivator in the Gezira has been for the cultivator to be tenant

for the season either on payment of an agreed rent, or more usually on payment

of ' ushur ' or a tithe of the crop." The rain-land population is migratory in

character. " Before the rains it is altogether insufficient for the work of

cultivation, but when the rains come, immigration proceeds in proportion to the amount of the rains. As a general statement it is correct to say that if the

rains are sufficient the whole district is under cultivation and the population is

sufficient. Without special demand, the population in rain-land villages is

unlikely to increase largely." It is estimated that an area of 2,025,710 feddans

was cultivated with rain crops in 1913, an increase of 442,970 feddans on 1912,1

which clearly indicates the adaptability of the system to a very uncertain

rainfall.

Costs of Sakia Cultivation.—On the other hand, the security afforded by a

reliable, if inefficient, means of irrigation, such as the " sakia," is reflected by the

size and value of holdings, a very limited fluctuation in the irrigated area, and a

far higher standard of cultivation than that obtaining on rain-lands. The

number of sakias in use during the year 1913 has been returned as 10,075, while

the area irrigated amounted to approximately 100,000 feddans. An outstanding

feature of the system is the degree to which subdivision of lands has been

effected, for with an average area of 10 feddans, which is equivalent to the

capacity of a single water-wheel in most circumstances, a sakia will frequently

be shared by the " samad," or officially recognised owner, with five or six

" partners," who are all title-holders to a larger or smaller share. A census

taken over a typical area of 150 feddans revealed the existence of fifty-five

titles, while an adult population of 120,000 finds employment and livelihood

on 100,000 feddans. The average land-tax payable on sakia cultivation amounts

to 400 milliemes per annum, and, while disinclination and disability to sell render

the establishment of a market price almost impossible, the current value of

these lands is certainly not less than £E.20 a. feddan.

In lieu of the tithe payable by the tenant of rain-lands, the sakia tenant

or partner by local custom surrenders approximately half his produce for the

use of the land and for the water required by his crop, in addition to which he is

* Ibid.

t £1 Egyptian = £1 Os. 6d. = 1,000 milliemes.

:j: Annual Report, 1913, Department of Agriculture.