72 any real increase of crime. In primitive districts where family feuds are common, the shedding of blood ‘is still looked upon by the people more as a pastime than a crime. Of 89 persons convicted of murder 12 were executed, the rule being tiiat capital punishment is only inflicted when there are no extenuating circumstances.

The juvenile reformatory continues to give good results; to so great a degree, in fact, that parents considered it a favour to get their offspring admitted. So far there have been no reconvictions amongst the boys who have been discharged. The inmates are given elementary instruction, are drilled, and learn a trade in the workshops.

There is little serious crime among females in the Soudan, and only 9 were admitted to the prisons.

The medical reports on the prisoners for the past year are satisfactory.

§ 20. S For the second year in succession, I am able to report that there has been practically no slave raiding.during the past twelve months. The inhabitants are becoming alive to the risks of conniving at these practices, arid the authority of the Government in remote parts of the country is gradually extending as officiiils acquire local experience and becom.e known and respected in their districts. Moreover, the successful operations of 1908 and 1909 in southern Kordofan have done much to stop the custom of keeping in captivity, and treating practically as slaves, prisoners taken in small lights between neighbouring hill tribes.

Again, the expense of avoiding posts and patrols of the Slave Trade Department is an additional discouragement to slave-traders; while the buyer finds it no longer worth while to buy a servant v/ho is free to run away at any moment. The complete extinction, therefore, of this traffic in its various forms is merely a question of time, though isolated instances may occasionally occur.

A new post has been established close to the Darfour frontier, to prevent slaves being sent into the Kababish and Kawahla countries, and to act as a check on tfie Gadlaba merchants who occasionally attempt to bring in from the west slaves disguised as servants.

In Kordofan over .'5,000 miles have been patrolled in the past twelve months, and in general the officials of the Department showed praiseworthy activity in the distant districts w’here alone there is now any likelihood of slave-dealing being attempted.

21. G Some 2,500 head of game have been shot during the year by 141 licence-holder.s, of whom 51 Yere visitors and 90 officials or residents. These figures do not differ sensibly from those of last year.

The revenue of the Department has increased by £E. 700, chiefly due to the price of gun licences having been raised, and kli’. A. L. Butler, the Superintendent, lays stress on the advisability of utilizing this surplus to provide additional staff.

There has been no difficulty in ensuring respect for the game-sanctuary as far as Europeans are concerned, but on the Abyssinian border, where game is most abundant, Gallas and Abyssinian Arabs have effected considerable destruction.

Elephants are numerous in the Mongalla province, and ap])ear generally to ho holding their own in the Soudan against the constant war waged upon them by the natives. A decree has been issued prohibiting the killing of elephants in the Lado Enclave, where great slaughter occurred last year, one adventurer, I regret to say an Englishman, being reported to have killed 165 to his own rifle.

VIII. PUBLIC HEALTH, 22. P Three new hospitals at Khartoum, Atbara, and Port Soudan were all opened during the year. The buildings are satisfactory, but various accessory constructions are still required in the twm former.

The iSoudan Medical Department has been placed under the direction of Colonel House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.