Gedaref and Gallahat.

107 detachment at Gallabat. There is always an Egyptian Mamur present, and usually a British Inspector for at least six months in the year. In addition, there is generally a small deatchment of the Arab battalion here.

There are many excellent gardens, growing the usual Sudan vegetables, and in addition, figs, limes, custard apples, Cultivation, and dates ; the latter are remarkable in that the trees bear two separate crops during the year.

As above-mentioned, a rain-crop of dura, dukhn, simsim, etc., is very extensively cultivated on the surrounding fertile plain ; a certain amount of cotton is also grown for local use; this, and the cereals, are capable of considerable development ; but this must await the advent of a railway. It should, however, be borne in mind that rain-watered cotton does not produce so fine a staple as that grown on irrigated land. All cotton grown here finds a ready sale at Gallabat to the Abyssinians.

The characteristic dura of Gedaref is a red species called " Kurgi," which produces a very white flour. There is very little " Naggad " or early dura sown ; its place is taken by dukhn, which, with simsim, is harvested at the end of October, whereas the " Kurgi " is not ripe until February. Simsim, or Sesame, as a rule does particularly well in this district. As all crops are dependent on the rainfall, they naturally vary considerably and in direct accordance with it. In 1899 they were almost a complete failure. The crops were attacked in 1902-03 by a disease called " Asal," a species of blight, so called as it produces a formation strongly resembling honey (Arabic " Asal ").* The rains begin in June and last on till October. f As the surrounding country is cotton soil, dust does not precede Rains. the storms as at Kassala, but judging from the dilapidated appearance of the town, when revisited on their cessation, the rainfall must be considerable in a favourable year.

Unless actually seen, it is difficult to picture the difference between Gedaref before and Gedaref immediately after the rains. By May, the surface of the ground surrounding the houses and environs of the town has become clean and bare, and many of the grass tukls have been rebuilt and appear almost toy-like, so spick and span are they. However, in October the whole place has the appearance of a wreck, houses are tumbling down, the neat new tukls are discoloured and distorted, and every square foot of ground, right up to the houses, not already planted with dura, at this time fully 12 feet high, is overgrown with the rankest of tall Aada grass, which is even higher, and through which the by-streets of the town are mere tunnels little more than 2 feet wide, and along which it is difficult to find one's way about without a guide. J At this season (September and early October) there is a good deal of malar'al fever in a year of good rainfall. Climate. The natives of 1 he place seem to some extent inoculated with it, though those from the more northern districts are readily affected.

From December to May the climate is perfectly healthy. There is no building wood, and little fire wood within 1.5 to 20 miles. Wood. There is a post and telegraph office, and a weekly camel post to Kassala, Gallabat, and Wad Medani. Telegraph also Posts and connects with these places. telegraphs.

As the serut fly is present at Gedaref during the rains, all camels are removed about the end of May, and other animals Serut fly. are kept in tukls as far as possible.

In the dry weather camels are the best transport, both for travelling along the roads or going across country Transport I over the cotton soil, should it be necessary, but, in the latter case, they will sooner or later suffer from sore feet. animals.

Limited numbers of camels are obtainable for hire or purchase during the winter months. Mules are only occasionally brought here. As many as .50 donkeys can usually be bought without much difficulty, price £E.2 to £E.3. [ The little Abyssinian donkey, price about £E.2, which is the best for that country, is also generally procurable.

Ariel, gazelle, bustard, quail, and a few snipe and teal are to be found in the neighbourhood at certain seasons. Game. ; For game in other parts of this district, vide under Gallabat.

Beyond Gedaref itself and the villages in its neighbourhood there are few others worth mentioning. Sofi, on the "Villages. f Atbara, is a largish Jaalin village under Sheikh Taib El Nimr. It was here that Sir Samuel and Lady Baker spent the rains of 1869 {vide -'Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia ").

At Abu Gulud, between Sofi and Doka, and other villages in this neighbourhood a large quantity of grain is usually grown. Asar is the headquarters of the Debania tribe, now much reduced in numbers, and the residence of their I Nazir Sheikh Wad Zaid.

On the Rahad the principal villages are Mafasa and Hawata. The former is the headquarters of the Mamur lof this (Radah) district. Upstream of Hawata there are few inhabitants at present.

Section 3. — Gallabat and District.

The comparatively small area (about 1,200 square miles) bounded on the west by the River Rahad, on the north Geaeral. by Khor Seraf Said, the southern boundary of Gedaref Province, and on the east and south by the Abyssinian * Vule p. 98.

t Totiil rainfall, January — October, 1904, 2.3' 1 inches. X This description refers to (he ►tate of Gedaref up to the end of 1899. Conditions have now improved.