Blue Nile and Binder . H.S flood, being charged with the scourings of the Abyssinian mountains and forests, it is heavily charged with deposit, and the water is of a deep chocolate colour. The Blue Nile is considered the chief fertilizing agent of Egypt.

From Khartoum to Sennar the country is uninteresting ; banks flat, vegetation and population considerable, ("ouutry here and there cultivation by sagias, crops mostly dura. h if South of Sennar the thorn jungle along the banks becomes very dense, and at high Nile dips into the water ; often the only way to get through it is by hippopotamus paths, though the roads on both banks have been cleared and there are meshras at frequent intervals.

Speaking generally, the further south one goes the steeper and higher the banks become, the channel of the river being worn away by the rush of water. The country on the right bank is mostly jungle, with little cultivation and few villages.

Between Wad Medani and Sennar the jungle on the left bank runs in a strip of one or two miles in breadth ; west of this strip are the cultivation and villages, which extend right across to the White Nile. Near Wad Medani the cultivation is continuous, and one marches for miles through dura fields. As one proceeds south, the cultivation becomes less general, until south of Senga, where it is mostly confined to strips along the river bank, and a certain amount round villages a few miles inland. South of Senga the jungle is replaced by forest, large tamarind trees, etc., with thick undergrowth, and open marshes extend along the banks, which, in the dry season, afford excellent grazing. The grass, which grows to a height of 8 to 10 feet in the rains, dies rapidly as the rain ceases, and throughout November and December the natives burn enormous tracts of the dry grass. These grass fires, intended to improve the grazing as well as to enable people to get about the country, are, as may be imagined, exceedingly detrimental to the forest trees, which become distorted and stunted. The forest on both banks of the Blue Nile south of Senga is chiefly composed of acacias of several varieties, laot, tamarisk, kittr, hashab, talh, soffar, and sidr. A few kakamut, tebeldi, dom palms, and sycamores are also to be seen in these forests.

The months of December, January, and February are cool and healthy. March, April and May are hot. The Olimate. rainy season begins in May and lasts till the end of October.* August, September, and October are very hot and damp. The drenching rains cool the air temporarily, but the subsequent heat is moist and enervating. On the upper reaches at Sennar, Karkoj, and further south, as the vegetation and foliage increase in density, so does malarial fever abound in proportion for at least a month after the rains have ceased. September and October are probably the worst months.

In October, frequent heavy thunderstorms occur with torrential rain ; they are, however, very local. Heavy dew at night. The storms get less frequent as the month goes on, and are over before November, after which the climate gradually improves. The north wind blows fitfully during November and December, and the nights are cold, but the temperature by day is very high until late in December, particularly south of Karkoj. The " serut fly" practically Serut fly. appears and disappears with the rains, and is scarce in October, except ir. certain places. Its northern limit is Sennar. Mosquitoes are bad at all stations at night during August, September, and October.

Cotton is cultivated by the natives on the Blue Nile either on the foreshore of the river or inland on ground Cotton, found by experience to be suitable in a good rainy season.

On the Dinder the only crop raised is the rain crop. This is sown in July after the heavy rains have commenced at the same time as drua, etc. The foreshore sowing takes place simultaneously with that of other foreshore crops. I.e., about December, after the river has fallen, according to the state of the Nile and the height of the submerged banks thus cultivated.

Both rain and foreshore crops begin to be ready for picking 4 riionths after sowing. There are usually three pickings, the last bijing the worst, as by that time the plants, which during winter are neglected, are invariably suffering from drought.

In a good year one feddan (acre) of rain-watered land will produce 400 to 1,000 lbs. of unginned cotton. The species of cotton generally sown on the Blue Nile and Dinder are " Abu Hareira," " Belwa," and " Mumtaz." The two former, usually sown on the foreshore, are the old native kinds, whilst the latter, sown as raincrop, was introduced by Mumtaz Pasha from Egypt in the days of the Old Goverrunent. The " Abu Hareira " and " Belwa " kinds last 3 years, but the " Mumtaz " only one. On the Blue Nile, the most favourable land for cotton cultivation is said to be from Sennar southwards to Abu Naama ; on the Dinder, the land above Deberki and Abu Eakhis is considered best. Good cotton (irrigated), however, was grown at Wad Medani last year (1903-1904) on the Government experimental farm; 6f kantarsf being actually grown on 1,000 square metres, or a j feddan, giving an average yield of 27 kantars (2,700 lbs.) per feddan.

RosEiRES. — On the right bank ; residence of a British Inspector and Egyptian Mamur. Post and telegraph Principal office ; communication by ferry with left bank. There is usually a garrison of one company, under a British oflicer, towns.

♦ Total i-ainfall at Eoseires, April to October, 1904, 27-8 iuchea. t 1 Kantar = 100 lbs.