76 31. B The opening of the railway from Khartoum to Wad Medani should give a great impulse to trade which has hitherto been hindered by the fe.ct that the lue Nile Avas hardly navigable between the months of January and June. The rates have been fixed as low as possible so as to allow the natives to compete in the Omdurman market, and, if there is a demand for maize from outside, a considerable increase of prosperity should result. The amount of land under flood-cultivation, which requires less labour than artificial irrigation, and is therefore preferred by the smaller cultivators, has been more than four times as great as last year, and the natives of Kamlin say that their crops are the best for the last twenty years. It may be mentioned that the cultivation of cotton as a rain-cro]D has greatl}’- increased this year.

The condition of the people is, in the opinion of Major Dickinson, the Governor, improving steadily, although the departure of their slaves has affected a great number of families who Avere accustomed to rely on this species of labour for the cultivation of their fields. Onl}» five cases of slaAe-dealing Avere brought to light last year and convictions Avere obtained in each case. The buying and selling of slaves in this part of the country has almost died out.

The attitude of the uatiAes towards education continues to be exceedingly favourable, and the number of pupils attending the various primary schools and Kuttabs Avas 493 and 100 respectively. The girls’ school at Kufaa—the only girls’school in the Soudan—has now 37 pupils. Last January I \A'as able during my tour in the Soudan to visit this school and see for myself the good work being done under the direction of Sheikh Babekr Badri, the head master.

32. D Colonel Jackson, Avho has noAv been in charge of this province for eight years, and is looked upon as a sort of special providence by the Avhole population, gives a good account of the prospects in the immediate future. Trade is augmenting steadily, as the folloAving statistics prove :— EXI'ORTS.

1907.

By rail By camel Total Kilog. 3,476,000 703,000 4,179,000 1908.

Kilog. 3,940,000 503.000 4,443,000 1909.

Kilog. 4,961,000 200,000 5,161,000 IMPORTS.

By rail By camel Total 2,242,000 43,000 2,285,000 2,625,000 22,000 2,647,000 3,391,000 71,000 3,462,000 Agriculture is thriving, and the land under cultivation continues to increase as fast as flood canal Avorks are extended. Crops have, hoAvever, to be regulated so as to produce sufficient fodder for the cattle that Avork the sakias, and for this reason neither cotton nor sugar is altogether suitable, though both groAv well, until better methods of irrigation are introduced.

The principal Avork of this character noAV in progress is the Kerma basin scheme, by A\diich 90,000 fecldans of arable land Avill be inundated by the Nile and the total production of cereals in the province doubled. The gradual extension of Avorks of this nature Avill largely increase the number and prosperity of the people, as Avell as the revenue of the GoA’-ernment.

33. H The agricultural development of the province is hampered by the dislike of the Berberine for field-work and his preference for the easier occupation of domestic service House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.