Tlie legal secretary Avrites: My general impression is that the courts ai-e progressing, and, though the majority of the judges do not reach as liigh a standai-d of learning as is desirable, their administiiition of tlie law is more sympathetic and pmctical and less hidebound by formalism tliaii that of many more learned lawvt*rs. Suits are heard with punctuality and, with tlie exception of proof of heirship, there is a praiseworthy absence ot dela}-."

The increiising cost of marriage is causing serious complaint amongst would-bs bridegrouins. From iCE. 13 to £E. 30 is tlie sum usually demanded as the bride’s dower amongst the well-to-do labouring classes in Omdurman and the northern provinces. Half the dower is paid before marriage, and the other half becomes pa3*able onK’ in the event of divorce. Stricth* speaking the dower should be the propertv of the wife, but in the Soudan the first half is paid to the father of the bride, and regarded as bis property, though it is often spent o.n the wedding festivities. In addition to the dower the brirlegroom makes considerable gifts to the bride and nsuall}' liears some part of the expense of tho festivities. One of the most jiopular of the Muhili's reforms was to fix the dower at 100 fihtstres for a girl and 50 piastres for a widow or divorced woman. The demanding of an unduly high dower is contraiy to the precepts of Islam ; and a laAV fixing a maximum amount ibr a dower would be regarded in this country as a reasonable measure and be received with fiivoiir.

Five new mosques have been opened during the j-ear, viz.: two in Berber, one in Bongola, one in the Blue Nile province, and one in the White Nile province.

X. EDUCATION.

26. Education.

This department, wliicli is under the capable and energetic supervision of Mr. Currie, shows a satisfactorv’ record for the year, though the ciiiTiculum of the secondary school annexed to the Gordon College has suffered somewhat owing to the financial impossibility of making proA'ision for the fourth or final year.

Instructional AA*orkshops noAv exist at Khartoum, Kassala, and Omdurman. The aggregate attendance is 283 hoA'S. Carpentry, fitting, and smithing are taught- in Khart'ium, stone.-cutting and boat-buildiiig at Omdurman, and carpentiy and fitting at Kassala.

Primary schools are located at Khartoum, Omdurman, Suakin, Haifa, Wad Medaiii, and Berber. The total number of pupils enrolled is S99.

TAA new Kuttabs liaA-e lieen opened in Haifa province; in Dongola two schools will shortly be at Avork; and in the Blue Nile proA-ince fiA-e. In the Kassala and Sennar provinces new buildings are in course of construction. The number of pupils in attendance at the Kuttabs has increased from 1,781 to 2,123. 3’he progress recorded in this branch of the AA'ork has been made possible b}* the imposition of local education rates, the central Treasuiy baA'ing been unable to increase its giants on this account. The question of the best form of organization for these elementary A*ernacular schools has been carefnlh* studied during the past year.

I entirel}' endorse Mr. Currie’s views as to the lines along which the Soudan GoA*erument ought to progress in the matter of education, namely:— ]. The multiplication of elementaiy A'illage schools. 2. The completion of the secondaiy school in the Gordon College, 3. The institution of a feAv girls’ schools.

XI. SCIENCE AND ART.

27. Science.

Dr. Balfour, the Director of the Wellcome Research Laboratories, reports that, despite the great increase in the amount of routine work—especially in the bacteriological .section—good progress has been made in the domain of research.. ’Ihe past year has House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.