Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-30

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in a position where the best cooperation
can be obtained and the combined institu
lions, offer great promise
Competent Teachers Scarce.
The general education problem is seri-
GUS one for the same reason that men
toned in connection with the same sub
iect in Egypt. Lord Cromer tells me that 1t
is impossible to secure competent teachers.
The attitude of the natives toward educa-
ton is encouraging. They are eager 10
learn Three and even two years ago they
were distrustful and suspicious because the
priests told them that the government
schools would teach their children the
Christian religion, but they have learned by
experience that there is no such danger,
and now from all of the big towns and
many of the villages, the natives are calling
for schools which cannot be furnished them
because there are no teachers rev OF
fer themselves every year. but the num-
Der is not half as many as is needed, and
the policy of the government is against en-
blowing incompetentS. Hence education is
still practically limited to the kuttabs or
Mohammedan mosque schools. where the
| children are taught verses from the Koran
| and a meager knowledge of reading and
| writing Mr.. Currie, superintendent OF ed
atiou advocates the establishment of
! model government kuttabs and the en-
| ployment of competent Arabs to take
charge of them and to give instruction in
| reading, writing, arithmetic. English and
| established, he argues the priests will be
| compelled to initiate them and improve
their educational system.
The eagerneSs of the people to learn IS
| shown by the large attendance and great
interest in the government schools at On
| durham and Khartun, which are new crea,
lions but are up to date in all educational
methods. AT Omdurman there are 2io pu-
| nils and 30 per cent of them are boys from
| the most prominent old Sudan families. At
| the Khartum school are lis boys from a
| similar class of the population, and in near
| ly every instance they ask instruction IN
| English instead of Arabic.
SURPRISING the Slave Trade.
The slave trade which has been carried
| ON in the Sudan with terrible effects, is
| beinr gradually suppressed Lord Cromer
saws that in Egypt proper the institution of
| sla very no longer exists but. he continues:
an the Sudan the case is different In that
| country we are only at the commencement
| of the anti-slavefy campaign. That sue
| cess will be eventually obtained l cannot
douht hut it must be admitted that the
difficulties are considerable because OF the
| vast extent of territory which has to be
guarded From all l can hear am led to
helieye that in spite of all the efforts. Of
| the government, slave raids. accompanied
with bioodshed, still occasionally takes
Mace in the southern districts. The slaves
are either sent westward or else eastward
| ACROSS the White Nile into Abyssinia where
! fhey are easily sold. Last year ninety-one
slaves we're freed and nine convictions OBJ
| tajned The slaves were chiefly brought
down by Traders from the Burun country
| and Abyssinia. They did not know Arabic.
which is pretty sure sign that they were
outsiders. n
| IAN English Inspector has been appointed
| at Kharturn to collect all possible Informal
| ton concerning the slave traffic. camel
| company. about 100 strong. patrols up and
| down the river! This measure appears to
1 have had the effect of srresting traffic, and
| also of diverting lit into the south and east.
have been driven into the hands of the
! camel corps. IL is certain that the traffic
| has of late been much less active than
! formerly.
| In Egypt proper. Lord Cromer says.
| ninety-four men and IA women slaves were
smanumitted daring the last year, and live
/ cases of slave stealing were brought to
trial, In four of them convictions were
/ obtained and the guilty sentenced to three.
/ five seven and fifteen years imprisonment.
Commerce. of course. is comparatively
limited in the Sudan at present but new
4 roads are being gradually opened up. and
/ 1t Is noticeable that great number of peo-
Die use them Trade has been pretty brisk
| on the Nile during the last year, as the
/ statistics show; 217 boats have been IL
censed and a regular service of steamers
| has been established between Khartum and
! Gondokoro, the most advanced northern
/ post of the Uganda government A rough
| survey of the country has been made. with
/ a view to extending the transportation sys-
| tenn and it is found that 1t involves smaller
engineering difficulties and expense than
| was supposed
i Imports Into the Sudan.
4 There was considerable increase in the
Imports and as an indication of the class