Fortunately for the joint interests of Egypt and the Sudan, though Egypt cannot spare water between the 15th March and 30th June, which would correspond to 1st March and 15th June in the Sudan; she has enough to spare for pumps at other times, though she has not always enough to spare for large free flow schemes in the Sudan. Free flow schemes in the Sudan, except during high and good floods, have however yet to be found.

Speaking generally we may say that the agricultural success of the Sudan will depend on permits for pumping engines to work between the 1st June and the end of February. There should be no difficulty in the way of such permits being given. We have spoken so far of schemes within the power of individuals and companies. Of schemes which the Government alone could carry out by itself or in conjunction with powerful companies, the most promising seem to be those which are connected with the 6th cataract. This cataract seems well suited for the construction of a solid dam to create power and develop electricity to work pumps between it and Khartoum, and some 30 kilometres up the Blue Nile; and if possible to allow of a canal down the left bank of the Nile as far as Berber. This project might be studied with advantage and a greater amount of water storage for summer use be also obtained.

PLATE XX

Sketch Plan
of
COUNTRY ABOUT DELGI N.W. of L. Tsana

Lith. Sur. Dep. Cairo.

[Larger map] (380 kB)

Another scheme is the construction of a double barrage and weir near Wad Medani on the Blue Nile, with canals irrigating the Gezireh and the right bank of the Blue Nile and the Nile to Shabluka. Unfortunately no cross sections have been taken of the Blue Nile showing how high the Gezireh is above the bed and water surface of the Blue Nile at Wad Medani. A weir further south would, as Mr. Dupuis states, entail very expensive canals to irrigate the lands south of Khartoum.

Mr. Dupuis’s report on the Atbara is not very hopeful. Without reservoirs this torrential river could insure no crop except millets and Indian corn. The same may be said for the Gaash. Basins without winter irrigation would, I think, be most unsatisfactory.

Examining Mr. Dupuis’s figures and sections for the outlet of lake Tsana, I calculate that this reservoir would not supply a fraction of the water estimated by Mr. Dupuis. If I were wrong, and I should be pleased indeed to be wrong here, a tunnel along the alignment roughly surveyed by Mr. Dupuis, [Plate XX], leading the waters of Lake Tsana into the Rahad river, and from there under the Blue Nile by a syphon, and branch canals irrigating both banks of the Rahad and both banks of the Blue Nile to Khartoum, would be one of the boldest projects in the world.