Evening star., 1922-07-15
SEE REGION TURNED
into VAST GRANARY
British Consider \Damming
of Blue Nile to Benefit
Sudan Area.

The advisability of damming up
the Blue Nile not far from Khartum,
in the Anglo Egyptian Sudan. so that
the rich triangular region between
the two mighty forks of the most
historic river in the world may be
turned into a granary for all the Su-
dan. is being considered by the Brit
ish government, newspaper dispatches
say.
The Blue Nile. or the Bahr-el-
Azrek, as it is called locally, rising
in the highlands of AbysSinia, to-
gether with two other affiuents from
the same source. furnishes the world
famous Niie with much of the rich
sediment which for centuries has en-
riched the plains of lower Egypt
during the food season." saws a bull
letin from the Washington, D. c.,
headquarters of the National Geo
graphic Society.
Almost nm Unknown Region.
Down through a region little known
and almost devoid of Inhabitants
or any form of cultivation, rushing
over numerous cataracts and rapids.
the Blue Nile cuts it's way from its
source, the beautiful broad sheet of
water known as Lake Tsana The
lake. which in the future may be-
come the reservoir for the irriga-
tion OF a vast area, lies 5000 feet
above sea level and about $500 feet
below the normal level Of the plateau
IN basin resembling somewhat the
crater OF volcano. Near its south
eastern corner. through a great fis-
sure in its almost inaccessible rim
the river issues. and. circling around
the mountains. strikes out in an $50
mile course toward the northwest. to
Join the chief branch of the Nile at
hhartum of Kitchener fame.
Ihe vast plains of Seminar or Ell
Gezira on its left bank, are among the
richest on the continent and it is
tnese IN that the irrigation projects are
70 develop. In Seminar, the binder a
Blue Nile tributary. which also rises
IN the Abyssianian highlands, adds,
during the rainy season. its sediment
laden flood to that of the already
swollen river. and together at Khar-
meters of water per second. thus out
doing the White Nile itself during
that time.
Main Stream Already Damned.
From July to October this mighty
flooding goes on, the waters of the
Blue Nile, so called because of their
clarity and blueness at ordinary sea-
with the greenish-gray color of the
white branch of Father Nilus.
This great difference in the volume
of water from Abyssinia is due to
the heavy rain that falls in the noun
tains of the country not far from its
itself may be said to be a simple one,
it's basic source being that steadily
flowing river from the tropics which
is fed by the great lakes in the east
ern and central portion of the con-
tinent, augmented at times by a great
volume Of water from its AhySsinjaD n
affluents.
Since 1902 the inhabitants of
Egypt near the mouth of the Nile
have had their water supply replen-
ished during the season OF low water
by the reserve supply stored in the
Assuan dam.
Much of Area Uninhnbited.
'Iong stretches of the area north
of the Blue Nile are almost entirely
uninhabited, one traveller reporting
that he travelled 'eighty-six miles in
AbyssinAa and had not seen a dwell
ing or a sign of cultivation And
even when one encounters inhabi-
east he finds them 'unashamed of any
theirs % crimes with perfect indifference
and recount them with gayety and
laughter as part of the regular con-
yersation during meals.
source, despite the burning tropical
heat Of the day. one is glad to crawl
snugly beneath his blanket when
night has fallen. The beautiful blue
lake encircled with mountains and
dotted with islands leaves much for
future explorers to do. as few data
concerning it have been gathered and
few soundings made. The sudden
gusts and squalls which rush down
the valleys across it give plenty of
variety to it's sometime deceptive
calm. Hippopotamuses, which the
natives hunt for their hides. infest
it's waters.
1.-THE mystery which has always
clung to the dark continent still en-
compasses much of this virtually un-
known region, but its promise is
great when man learns to harness
the power it possesses, to give water
to its thirsty and dry sections. and
wrest from 1t the wealth of its
natural gifts"