A still more primitive method of water transport is that of inflated skins, or empty jars with the mouth closed by a skin.
Red Sea.
The Sudan Government owns a steamer of 420 tons, the “Mukhbir,” which plies between Suez and Suakin at irregular intervals as occasion requires.
Section 3.—Roads.
The Sudan is almost entirely flat, except along its eastern frontier and in parts of Southern Kordofan, S. Bahr El Ghazal, and Darfur. Theoretically it should be possible to traverse it from end to end without difficulty, for it is almost everywhere good “going” for animals, though not for wheeled transport; but practically communication is everywhere limited by questions of wells and water supply, in many parts by the presence of thick and thorny bush, and in some parts by swamps.
The main cross-country roads (including some leading outside the Sudan) are:—
| 1. | The Darb El Arbain (40 days’ road),between El Fasher (Darfur) and Assiut (Egypt). (Vide[Appendix,] Part III., Vol. 2.) Little used except by occasionalsmugglers. |
| 2. | Korosko-Abu Hamed. Little used since therailway was built. |
| 3. | Debba-Khartoum. Date caravans, Dongola toOmdurman. |
| 4. | Korti-Metemma. Date caravans, Dongola toShendi, etc. |
| 5. | Berber-Suakin. Will be superseded byrailway. |
| 6. | Suakin-Tokar-Kassala. |
| 7. | Berber-Kassala. |
| 8. | Khartoum-Abu Haraz-Gedaref-Kassala. |
| 9. | Omdurman-El Obeid. |
| 10. | El Dueim-El Obeid. Gum caravans. |
| 11. | El Obeid-El Fasher. Road to Darfur. |
| 12. | Renk-Jebel Gule-Roseires. Latelyopened. |
| 13. | Shambe-Rumbek-Tonj-Wau-Deim Zubeir. BahrEl Ghazal supply caravans’ road. |
| 14. | El Fasher-Shakka. In Darfur. |
| 15. | El Fasher-Abesher. Darfur-Wadai road.(Vide [p. 189.]) |
| 16. | Kassala-Massawa |
| 17. | Gedaref-Gallabat-Lake Tsana. Trade routefrom Northern Abyssinia. |
| 18. | Kirin to Melut. Trade route from EasternAbyssinia (not yet opened). |
| 19. | Gore to Abwong. Ditto. |
| See Vol. II fordetailed descriptions of roads throughout the Sudan. | |
Section 4.—Riding and Transport Animals.
The animal which is the most suitable for each district of the Sudan naturally varies according to the locality. Roughly, it may be said that north of the 12th parallel the camel is the most useful animal. On the hilly slopes of the Abyssinian plateau the mule and donkey are indispensable, and these are also employed in the Bahr El Ghazal (vide [Chap. VII]). In Southern Kordofan bulls are used for riding, and a certain amount of stuff is carried on pack-oxen; whilst in the low-lying, as well as in the hilly, districts of the Upper Nile human porterage is employed.
Horses.The horse is bred and used for riding purposes in Southern Kordofan, in parts of the Dongola province, and in the northern part of the Gezira between the White and Blue Niles, but, probably owing to his inability to travel long distances without water, is not thickly distributed any where, and a really good one is rarely to be purchased. Some Abyssinian ponies and country-breds are to be had near that border, price £E.4 to £E.5. The principal horse-owning tribes in the Sudan at present are the Homr and Messeria Baggara in south-west Kordofan.