Roads and Animals. 217 Red Sea.

The Sudan Government owns a steamer of 420 tons, the " Mukhbir," which plies between Suez and Suakin at irregular intervals as occasion requires.

Section .3. — Roads.

The Sudan is almost entirely flat, except along its eastern frontier and in parts of Southern Kordofan, S. Bahi' El Ghazal, and Darfur. Theoretically it should be possible to traverse it from end to end without difficulty, for it is almost everywhere good " going " for animals, though not for wheeled transport ; but practically communication is everywhere limited by questions of wells and water supply, in many parts by the presence of thick and thorny bush, and in some parts by swamps.

The main cross-country roads (including some leading outside the Sudan) are : — 1. The Darb El Arbain (40 days' road), between El Fasher (Darfur) and Assiut (Egypt). {Vide Appendix, Part III., Vol. 2.) Little used except by occasional smugglers.

2. Korosko-Abu Hamed. Little used since the railway was built. 3. Debba-Khartoum. Date caravans, Dongola to Omdurman.

4. Korti-Metemma. Date caravans, Dongola to Shendi, etc. ' 5. Berber-Suakin. Will be superseded by railway. 6. Suakin-Tokar-Kassala. 7. Berber-Kassala. 8. Khartoum-Abu Haraz-Gedaref-Kassala. 9. Omdurman-El Obeid. 10. El Dueim-El Obeid. Gum caravans 11. El Obeid-El Fasher. Road to Darfur.

12. Renk-Jebel Gule-Roseires. Lately opened 13. Shambe-Rumbek-Tonj-Wau-Deim Zubeir. Bahr El Ghazal supply caravans' road. 14. El Fasher-Shakka. In Darfur.

1.5. El Fasher-Abesher. Darfur-Wadai road. (Vide p. 189.) 16. Kassala-Massawa 17. Gedaref-Gallabat-Lake Tsana. Trade route from Northern Abyssinia. 18. Kirin to Melut. Trade route from Eastern Abyssinia (not yet opened). 19. Gore to Abwong. Ditto. See Vol. II for detailed descriptions of roads throughout the Sudan.

Section 4. — Riding and Transport Animals.

The animal which is the most suitable for each district of the Sudan naturally varies according to the locality. Roughly, it may be said that north of the 12th parallel the camel is the most useful animal. On the hilly slopes of the Abyssinian plateau the mule and donkey are indispensable, and these are also employed in the Bahr El Ghazal (vide Chap. VII). In Southern Kordofan bulls are used for riding, and a certain amount of stuff is carried on pack-oxen ; whilst in the low-lying, as well as in the hilly, districts of the Upper Nile human porterage is employed.

The horse is bred and used for riding purposes in Southern Kordofan, in parts of the Dongola province, and in Horses, the northern part of the Gezira between the White and Blue Niles, but, probably owing to his inability to travel long distances without water, is not thickly distributed any where, and a really good one is rarely to be purchased. Some Abyssinian ponies and country-breds are to be had near that border, price £E.4 to £E.5. The principal horse-owning tribes in the Sudan at present are the Homr and Messeria Baggara in south-west Kordofan.

The great breeding-grounds of the camel are to be found in the desert between the Nile (north of Berber) and the Camels. Red Sea ; and in the Kababish and other country in Southern Dongola, in the Hadendoa country, and in Northern Kordofan. In these districts a very fine stamp of camel is produced, much lighter, faster, and better-bred-looking than the slow, heavy transport camel of Lower Egypt.

Thousands of camels are bred in these parts and owned by the various nomadic tribes ; but it is not easy to obtain them in large number.*, for the owners are, as a rule, disinclined to sell.

The camels of the Kababish and neighbouring tribes are fully engaged in the transport of gum and dates, and in other parts constitute the sole wealth of their owners, who will not part except at comparatively high prices.