Observers' Field Reports 189 



been much deeper and of being gradually filled by sand blown from the barren highlands 

 of the Sahara lying to the north and northeast. Oxen were used for transporting to 

 Abeche\ They would travel 15 miles in a day if they were in good condition; otherwise, 

 10 or 12 miles was the maximum. Water, or rather liquid, was obtained every day, and 

 where there were inhabitants, large herds of cattle, goats and fat-tailed sheep were in 

 evidence. Horses of an inferior breed are raised to some extent. 



Abeche" is the headquarters of Oudai and the starting point for government officials 

 who go north and northeast into the rough country of Tibesti and Borku. There are 

 many rocky prominences or masses of rock ("gebel") between Abeche" and El-Fasher 

 in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, and the divide which separates the Nile, Congo, and Tchad 

 systems is flanked by rough country. The caravan was changed to camels at Abeche" 

 and at the end of one day's march east of Tountouma, the last French post, the mounted 

 French troopers of my escort put me in care of 6 stalwart blacks dressed in flowing 

 Moslem robes, who were soldiers of the Sultan of Dar Massalit. The only modern articles 

 of their equipment were their French rifles and ammunition, which had been taken under 

 the previous sultan, an uncle of the present one, when he annihilated two French columns 

 sent against him. Subsequently, in Cairo, I learned that the British from El-Fasher had 

 occupied this territory and installed a wireless station at Djenene, the capital of Dar Mas- 

 salit. After 9 days within the boundaries of this independent kingdom, during which I 

 established 3 stations, an escort of Anglo-Egyptian Sudanese troops or police arrived to 

 accompany me to El-Fasher. The men were well mounted on horses, well bridled and 

 saddled, and their trim uniform and respectful manner inspired no small confidence in 

 their ability. 



On September 7, I arrived at El-Fasher, Dar Fur, and was cordially welcomed by 

 His Excellency, Lieutenant-Colonel Saville, the Governor, and by his staff. This province 

 had been occupied by the troops one year before upon Sultan Ali Dinar's refusal to pay 

 his annual tribute. The journey could not have been made across this territory before 

 1916. A delay was necessary here on account of a shortage of camels for transport, 

 caused by the sultan's misrule and the recent military operations. When the camels had 

 been provided, an attack of the malaria lengthened the delay here to 26 days. This 

 portion of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan is not so productive as the French country recently 

 passed through. The villages have little if any stock, and wells are much farther apart. 

 The caravan averaged 25 to 27 miles per day. 



At El Nahud, in the province of Kordofan, one sees the first of the marketing of 

 gum arabic for which the province is famous. The gum exudes from the trunks and 

 branches of scrubby trees after they have been gashed by the natives. Areas covered 

 by these trees are referred to in government reports as gum gardens, and are also known 

 as gum forests, but to the inexperienced these forests and gardens appear to be only 

 the wilderness so frequently seen in many other parts of Africa. El Obeid, the capital 

 of Kordofan, is the terminus of the railway which connects with the outside world. On 

 this railroad is carried 75 per cent of the gum arabic produced in the world. Kosti, 

 on the White Nile, was reached November 23. It was just one day less than a year since 

 we left Stanley Pool, and in that time 77 stations were established, making an average 

 of one station for every 4 to 5 days; 700 miles were covered by steamer transportation 

 on the Congo, and 2,100 by boat and caravan, making 37 miles of travel per station. 

 But one station was established from Stanley Pool to Bangui, so the average distance 

 apart of stations on land travel was 27 miles. The average field cost of a station 

 was about $32. 



V. Along the Nile River and the Red Sea Coast. Travel was continued by railroad 

 to Khartum, which was reached November 29, 1917. Computations, medical and dental 

 treatment, repairing of camping outfit, arrangements with the Steamers Department of 



