268 
THE EASTERN SOUDAN. 
Sport. 
History of 
JHEsissstlc*,. 
represents the frontier between Eritrea and the Egyptian territories 
running from the Red Sea in a south-westerly direction, and then to 
Tomat immediately south of El Fasher. The frontier south of El Fasher 
is not defined, and is the subject of negotiation between the Italian and 
the Abyssinian Governments. 
climate. As re g ai *ds the climate of the Eastern Soudan, it 
is similar to that of the Soudan generally, exces¬ 
sively hob by day with a breeze by night, rendering sleep possible ; it 
is not so on the Red Sea, where at places like Suakin and Massowah, 
the nights during July, August and part of September are almost 
unbearable. The nearest sanatorium I know of is in Eritrea, at 
Asmara, 8,000 feet above the sea, and at Keren. The climate of this 
part of Eritrea is very much like the climate of Switzerland. 
Officers have often asked questions regarding sport 
in these regions. Moving from place to place we 
came across giraffe, ostrich and bustard. Lions and leopards were 
reported in the Barea country. I think they were there because 
the natives were so continually offering their skins for sale. 
With reference to the Eastern Soudan generally, 
the most important town in it is undoubtedly 
Kassala, and it is important for two reasons. 
Firstly, its central situation. If you take Kassala as a centre 
and draw a radius you can describe a circular figure passing 
through Omdurman, Berber, Suakin, Massowa and the south portion 
of Gedarif Province at Rosaires. All these places are more or less 
important. The Arabs go so far as to say that you cannot get 
anywhere into the Soudan without going to Kassala. Secondly, 
on account of the extreme fertility of the soil of the surrounding 
neighbourhood. Round Kassala there is a network of wells, and in the 
rainy season the Khor Gash fed with rain water from the Abyssinian 
Mountains inundates the district. 
During the last twenty years Kassala has had a momentous 
history. On the outbreak of Madhism in 1884 it was being held by 
an Egyptian garrison of some 3,900 men, under the gallant Egyptian 
Commander, Ahmed Bey Rifaat. It then had a population of about 
13,000. The fort was beseiged, and after a noble resistance fell, the 
garrison being treacherously massacred. 
Using Kassala as their base, the Dervishes used to raid in all 
directions, more often in the direction of Khor Baraka and Agordat. 
In December, 1893, the Dervishes attacked Agordat when Colonel 
Arimondi so distinguished himself. With a force of about 2,300 
men, including artillery, he repelled an attack made by 8,000 
Dervishes, under a noted Dervish warrior named Ahmed Ali. After 
a desperate fight the Dervishes were defeated and retired with the 
loss of between 3,000 and 4,000 men, including their chief. 
In July, 1894, General Baratieri, who was then Governor of Eritrea, 
by some fine marching and able tactics surprised and recaptured 
Kassala Fort. He marched from a little west of Agordat Fort. 
