COTTON IN EGYPT AND THE SUDAN; 137 



1910 1911 



Separate figures for : r ** -^ f -^ N 



1,000 kg. E. 1,000 kg. E. 



Ginned cotton 799 73,239 3,109 195,270 



Unginned cotton 6,214 151,529 2,180 40,575 



Cottonseed 1,710 10,476 7,105 31,580 



Of these 235,244 267,425 



Tokar District 4,431 6,972 



Khartum and Nile Valley North 



of Khartum 798 747 



Rest of the Sudan, mostly rain 



crops 3,494 4,675 



As the total export of the Sudan in 1910 was ^977,620, in 1911 

 ;l,376,950, cotton and cotton seed with 24 and 20 per cent, consti- 

 tute a very formidable percentage. 



About half of the Sudan exports are sent via Suez, and are 

 loaded there in steamers for Egypt or for Europe. It is hoped that 

 in consequence of the increasing shipping opportunities in Port 

 Sudan, direct shipments to Europe will more and more increase. In 

 1910 we have already had direct cotton shipments which until then 

 had been sent via Suez and Egypt for further exportation. In 1911, 

 743 tons of cotton and 4,839 tons of cotton seed were sent direct to 

 England. 



The export duty of cotton is in the Sudan exactly the same as 

 in Egypt, viz., 1 per cent, ad valorem. Certain produce, as gum, 

 ostrich feathers, ivory, &c., have to pay in addition a royalty of 

 10 to 20 per cent, ad valorem. 



In 1908, a Sudan Chamber of Commerce was established in 

 Khartoum ; this is mostly composed of Greeks. Mention must also 

 be made of the Omdurman Merchant Association, created 

 in 1911 by a Hungarian, Mr. Albert Singer, which at the beginning 

 had various differences with the Government, but seems now to be 

 able to command respect and influence. 



Besides the National Bank of Egypt, there is in Khartoum an 

 agency of the Banque d'Athenes, although there is really no urgent 

 need for the establishment of a second bank. 



CALOTROPIS. 



Almost everywhere in the Sudan we find scattered a weed on the 

 poorest soil and frequently in the desert; it is " Calotropis procera," 

 of the family of the Asclepradaces. It grows into shrub also 6 feet 

 high, its large oval leaves stand out vertically, it has numerous 

 violet flowers and large boll fruit, and as a desert plant it is certainly 

 of luxurious growth. This plant, which annually throws out new 

 shoots from the root, is called in Arabic " Ushr," and from an 

 economic point of view it was hardly known in the Sudan. Its coarse, 

 dry branches are used as fuel or for making charcoal. The fibres 

 of the green stems, which are more than 4ft. in length, are some- 

 times used for making ropes. The fact that the silky hairs of the 

 'seed have a considerable commercial value was as much unknown 

 in the Sudan at the time of my visit in the autumn of 1912 as amongst 

 the Alexandrian exporters. This desert-silk of the Ushr plant, which 

 is similar to that of the Kagok, has gained extraordinarily in impor- 



