COTTON IN EGYPT AND THE SUDAN. 141 



As long distances of the Sudan railways lead through deserts, it 

 will always be necessary that the fares are high, in order to cover 

 to some extent the expenses. 



For the promotion of a remunerative cultivation of cotton the 

 extension of the railway net would be an essential preliminary con- 

 dition, and the carriage would have to be at low rates, covering, 

 perhaps, only the prime cost. It should not be the aim to make a 

 profit on the transport of cotton. The project for the immediate 

 extension of the railway seems to have reached its present termination 

 with the construction of the line to El Obeid. The next step will 

 probably be a railway from Sennar via Gedaref, Kassala, and Tokar 

 to Suakin. It is also intended to construct a railway later from El 

 Obeid to Kordofan and Darfour. 



In 1911, the freights on the railway and Government steamers 

 were reduced. A through rate was introduced for the route between 

 Port Sudan and Gambela, 2,232 km. long. Gambela is a trading 

 station on the Baro, a contributory of the Sobat, which flows into 

 the White Nile. It belongs to Abyssinia, and is only leased to the 

 English as a trading station. 



This transit-commerce with western Abyssinia via Gambela com- 

 menced in 1904, and since 1905 steamers of 600 tons ply regularly 

 between Khartoum and Gambela from June to November. Transpor- 

 tation in the Sudan becomes very expensive owing to the high wages 

 paid to carriers, which fact is easily explained through the lack of 

 labour. 



The old caravan routes are very much neglected in consequence 

 of the extension of the railways, and the roads which serve for local 

 traffic are very primitive indeed, although, latterly more attention 

 is being paid to the construction of the ordinary roads. Mention 

 might be made of the main road between Khartoum and Kassala, 

 which is fit for motor traffic, and which keeps up communication with 

 Erytrea, also of the new commercial road between Sennar and 

 'Gallabat on the frontier of North Abyssinia. 



Camels and donkeys for transport are very numerous. 



A large number of new wells have been constructed along all 

 main roads. 



FUTURE OF SUDAN COTTON. 



The industrial development of the Sudan has had to be, so far, 

 according to all circumstances, a slow one, and even to-day one 

 can only with difficulty forecast to what extent agriculture will 

 develop, and at what period it will reach an important turnover. 

 Both these items depend, even if no unforeseen circumstances occur 

 which might cause a set-back to the work of civilisation that is being 

 introduced by an excellent staff of officials, upon a large number of 

 conditions, on which the Government can only have a limited influ- 

 ence. The Government administration is acting very prudently by 

 proceeding step by step and not advancing reforms too rashly. Lord 

 Cromer, in speaking in one of his last Sudan reports, which, in a way, 

 may be looked upon as the last will and testament of this author 

 shortly before leaving Egypt, said quite rightly, " that the work of 

 generations cannot be crowded into a few years. ' ' In the first instance, 



