SUDAN

vast region in Africa with no strictly defined limits, but roughly extending 8. from Egypt and_ Sahara, and from Atlantic in W. to Red Sea and Aby in i a on E.; includes Upper Senegal-Niger Colony (formerly. embracThere is a great diversity of physical features, but Sudan is chiefly an elevated region, mountainous in parts, wi gra y, steppe-like plains and considerable forest-land; region is watered by Niger and Nile; in center is Lake Chad; climate is hot and in many parts very unhealthy. Chief occupations are Ostrich farming, sheep, goat, and camel rearing, cultivation of cotton, durra, ° barley, wheat, and dates; exports include cotton, gum, rubber, ivory, ostrich feathers, and dates. 18°-38° E.), situated in Upper Nile valley, is bounded on N. by Egypt, vas on: E. by Red Sea, Eritrea, and Aby in i a, i Ss. its Sate he tig i bet: elgian Congo, and on W. 5 s Sudan is divided into fifteen provinces; chief towns are Khartum, cap., Omdurhis|Suakin, Port Sudan, Ka ala, and Damir. The coast along Red Sea has few go0q harbors and no deep indentations; beyond the sandy stretch lying along shores is mt. range running parallel to Red Sea and joining highlands of Aby in i a in §.; chief summits are Jebel vated part is Darfur; in N. between the Red Sea and Nile is Nubian Desert, a bare, desolate tract with little vegetation; in the neighborhood of Nile and its tributaries the soil is rich and fertile, and in some places thickly wooded; western Sudan consists chiefly of gra y plains, and the S. isa swampy, unhealthy dist. Besides the Nile and its tributaries the most important rivers are Gash and Baraka. Among many wild animals are the lion, leopard, elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and antelope; snakes and birds of brilliant plumage are numerous; forests yield rubber, gum, ivory, and much valuable timber; iron, gold, copper, and lignite are produced; cattle raising important; cotton succe fully cultivated under irrigation; Gezira irrigation project will add 100,000 acres to cotton area; other plans depend on labor, transport, and capital facilities. Inhabitants are mainly Egyptians, Arabs and negro tribes, with a few Europe ans. The Egyptian conquest of the Sudan began in Nubia, c. 1820, and gradually spread over surrounding districts; in 1874 Darfur was taken; some years later, revolts were crushed in Darfur and Kordofan by General Gordon, and in Bahr-el-Ghazal by Ge i; the Mahdi revolted in 1882, and rapidly overpowered the Egyptian army, their first important victory being over Hicks Pasha’s forces in 1885; Gordon was isolated in Khartum, and before a istance arrived he was killed, and the town captured, 1885; the Mahdi died in same year, and was succeeded by the Khalifa, who ruled till 1898, when he was completely defeated at Omdurman by Anglo-Egyptian army under Kitchener. Sudan contains remains of many pyramids, temples, churches, monasteries, towns, and fortre es. By agreement signed in 1899, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan is under joint management of Great Britain and Egypt; gov.-gen. is appointed by Egypt with a ent of Britain; each prov. has a governor of its own; Darfur was absorbed after rebellion of 1916; the Lado enclave was included in 1910; as a trading post. Anglo-Egyptian Sudan has c. 1,500 m. of railway; a line to El Obeid was opened in 1912. There is a fleet of government steamers on Nile. Area c. 1,014,400 sq. m.; pop. (est.) 3,400,000. See Mar, Arrica.