Public-domain ebook
by Sudan. Wizarat al-Naql wa-al-Muwasalat
Language: en2,665 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #74584.
The work is a government‑produced reference on the Anglo‑Egyptian Sudan as it stood in 1905. Its opening pages explain that it revises the earlier “Handbook of the Sudan” (1898) and its 1899 supplement, adding fresh material on the country’s resources, administration, commerce and development since then. Compiled by a range of Sudan officials and edited by Lieutenant‑Colonel Count Gleichen, the volume is organized into three parts, Geographical and Descriptive, Historical, and Routes (the latter bound separately as volume II). The first part alone contains detailed chapters on everything from the White Nile’s navigability to the geography, peoples, climate and economy of each region, followed by a historical overview from ancient times to the early twentieth century and extensive appendices of treaties, statistics and maps.
The text reads like an exhaustive bureaucratic report, dense with technical language, tables and footnotes, reflecting the colonial administration’s perspective of the era. Its style is formal, factual and heavily annotated, with contributions from military officers, civil servants and scholars. Readers with a scholarly interest in early‑20th‑century African colonial history, historical geography, or the administrative mechanics of British‑Egyptian rule will find it rewarding, while those seeking narrative travel literature should look elsewhere.
The opening · free to read
The following pages contain a comprehensive description of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan in 1905. This includes revision and amplification of the “Handbook of the Sudan” (1898) and of the “Supplement to the Handbook of the Sudan” (1899), besides a great deal of additional information as to the resources, development, administration, commerce, etc., of the country, shewing its progress since 1899. It may, however, be well understood that the description of many parts of the country is still far from complete.
The chapters have been compiled by various officers in the Sudan Administration; but the main work of editing and revision has fallen on Lieut.-Colonel Count Gleichen (the Editor), who, from the somewhat indiscriminate mass of reports, documents and books at his disposal, has evolved a compendium which cannot fail to be of great use and value to the officers and officials of the Sudan Government. I even venture to hope that such of the general public as may be interested in this vast country, its history, and its future, will find in the following pages a useful work of reference until a more complete and comprehensive work is forthcoming.
[The loss to the Sudan Government of the services of Count Gleichen, who, since he undertook this work, has been transferred to the Military Attachéship at Berlin, is much to be regretted, and that he should have been able to continue the compilation in his new position speaks volumes for his industry and capacity.]
The Editor’s thanks are particularly due to Sir William Garstin, G.C.M.G., and Captain Lyons (Director of Egyptian Government Surveys) for a mass of valuable information about the White Nile, and to Captain H. H. S. Morant (Assistant Director of Intelligence), for assistance rendered in compiling and editing.
The work has been divided into three Parts (Geographical and Descriptive, Historical, and Routes); the last Part, for convenience of practical reference, being bound separately (by chapters) as the second volume.
[For practical purposes of travel, sport, etc., the books noted on p. 213 will be found indispensable.]
EDITORIAL NOTE.—_The indulgence of readers is requested in the matter of possible small errors in cross references, Index, etc., for, during the progress of the work through the press in London, the majority of the compilers and proof-correctors have been in the Sudan and the Editor in Germany._—G.
Berlin, 23rd March, 1905.
The book keeps going
Reading is free forever. Sign up and watch scenes appear while you read.
Scenes Storieta drew for other classics.
New illustrated classics
Once or twice a month: the latest books to get full character casts, scene art, and free comic editions. No account needed.
