Haikvai/s ; SteamerB.

215 From about 1st April to 15th December there are two expresses each way weekly between Haifa and Khartoum North ; one of them has sleeping and dining cars attached with a restaurateur, but the other has only ordinary first, second, and third class carriages.

Passengers travelling by the latter must make their own arrangements for meals ; the first and second class carriages have small kitchens in them for the use of passengers' servants.

From about 15th December to 1st April there are two expresses weekly, each having sleeping and dining cars and restaurateur. There are also two local passenger trains each way weekly between Abidia and Khartoum North all the year round.

For fares and freights apply to Agent-General, Sudan Government, Cairo, or Traffic Manager, Haifa. Time occupied on journey, Haifa to Khartoum, by passenger trains, 28 hours ; by goods trains, 47 hours.

KERMA LINE.* List of Stations. Miles from H ilfa.

IJeiu Ilk.-.

Halfat 1 Haifa (Ca7iip)t 0 Sai ras 33 On liver. Ambugol . . . 64 In desert ; wells. Akasha 86 On river. Koshaf 105 On river ; small shed and workshop ; railway strikes south across desert. Kiiror 137 Ill desert. Dalgo 164 Eailway rejoins river. Kermai 203 On river ; shed and workshops.

Kerma is about 30 miles north of Dongola. Transport between these two either by steamer, donkey, or camel, according to state of river.

Passenger accommodation on the Kerma line is of a rough description. Rates according to class of vehicles.

Gross receipts of Sudan Government Railways during 1902, £E. 194,000, of which £E. 103,000 on Government (ieneral. account ; in 1903 the receipts were £E. 137, 000.

Goods trains on both branches run according to the requirements of the traffic, usually one train each way daily. For rates, etc., apply Traffic Manager, Haifa.

Stations are open for receipt of goods from 7.0 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., and for delivery of goods from 7.0 a.m. to 5.0 p.m. There is a miniature railway in Khartoum used for passengers, etc., but beyond this no light railways have yet Light been constructed in the country. There seem to be openings for these towards Kassala, Gedaref, and El Obeid, railways. but the time has not yet come.

Section 2. — River Communications.

The Sudan freight, passenger, and postal communications are carried out by river from Shellal to Haifa, Kerma to Merowe on the Dongola reach, and to stations south of Khartoum by steamers and sailing boats.

Shellal-Halfa (226 Miles).

On the Shellal-Halfa reach for this purpose are five stern- wheel steamers, 2 screw tugs, 11 troop barges, 8 sailing barges (including one of 500 tons carrying capacity), and 44 sailing gayassas belonging to the Sudan Government ; there are also about 1 10 gayassas on hire for carriage of supplies, stores, etc. A fast steamer service twice a week for through mails and passengers runs in connection with the Egyptian and Sudan railway services. This service is carried out by two steamers.

A slow service for local mails and passengers and freight also runs twice weekly. The steamer passenger service carries private passengers, but no private freight is taken either by Government steamers or sailing boats. This is taken by private companies, Messrs. Thos. Cook, etc.

Arrangements are made to load both ordinary passengers and cargo at North End, Aswan, and for steamers and boats to pass through the dam locks. The fast mail steamers start from above {i.e., south of) the dam.

* This line is to be abolished altogether in December, 1904. t Telegraph office.