The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-08

the quality of the crop would be excellent. As it is now we are raising excellent cot ton on the Red sea. near Suakm. There are about 30,000 acres planted there and the crop is profitable one. Plantations are being set out by foreigners near Khartum and the cotton raised is fully equal to the best Egyptian. One of your own countrymen, MT. Leigh Hunt, is eX- perimenting on large scale with differ ent kinds of American cotton a little north of here, near the mouth of the At bara river. He says that the Sea Island cotton will grow there, and that he has no doubt of the future of that region as son why cotton should not be largely raised in all our southern provinces.
 The Question of Labor.
 But how about your labor. your ex- cellency: have you the workmen necessa- ry to cultivate such crops?"
 That is a problem which only the fu- ture can solve" replied the governor gen eral of the Sudan. We have all kinds of natives here, and that in all the different stages of savagery and standardization. There are hundreds of tribes whose peo- pie can be taught to work and others the members of which will need many years before they can be made into such farm CTS as we have in Egypt and India. We have some who will work only long enough to get food and supplies for thelr immediate needs and who, when q lttlc ahead, will spend their time in dancing and drinking the native beer until they become poor again. We have also large admixture of Arabs and other races which are of a far higher character, and of these we expect much.'
 Would it be impossible to import labor for the Sudan?" l asked.
 No, l think not. We may in time i'm port some outside labor. although it is probable that the Africans will always do most of the work. We could use East Indians. They live in about the same latitude and their climate is somewhat similar. Besides they are not averse 10 going away from home to work"
 Gan Caucasians live here?'
 Not day laborers to work out of doors summer and winter. They might act as overseers and in positions where they will not have to endure the heat of the sun. There are some places where they seem to thrive. Here in Khartum we have had many Italians at work. and they do not seem to be any the worse for it. The Italians serve as mechanics The chief labor will probably always be fur nished by the Africans
 The March of Civilization.
 Do you see many changes nj the con
 
 cupation?"
 Yes. They are doing far better than in the past. They wear more clothing, they have more wants, and are working to supply them. Formerly many went naked, and as there was no security of property and few wants they had no incentives to save. When we came here the taxes were levied at the will of the rulers and the rich native was sure to be persecuted. Now taxes are fairly levied. and the natives are learning that their savings will be respected. They are com ing to have faith in us. Our first bus mess was to make them realize that we intended to treat them fairly and hon estly and I believe we have succeeded. We had also to organize the country so that it might be able to pay the expenses of it's government. We are fast reaching that stage"
 A Great Baby Farm.
 "Is your native population increasingly"
 'Very rapidly" replied the sirdar "l am surprised at the large number of chill dren who have been born since we took possession of the Sudan. The provinces fairly swarm with little ones under years of age. During my recent trip through Kordofan. I carried q lot of small coin with me to give to the children. The news of this travelled ahead, and as soon as we approached q village we would be met by the babies in force. Nearly every peasant woman came forward with half dozen or more little naked blacks and