Chivalry & Sorcery: Creag Hill Paul

Wade-Williams
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Adventure Module

Creag Hill
2

Foreword
Welcome, to Creag Hill one of the new adventures
for Chivalry & Sorcery 5th Edition.
This is the first of our historical adventures and was
written by Paul “Wiggy” Wade-Williams some years
ago for us, but 5th edition has breathed new life into
it. We hope to bring other small adventures from
Pauls pen in the coming months.
So good reading and fun gaming …
Steve Turner
Brittannia Game Designs Ltd
March 2020
Line Manager: Stephen A Turner
Assistant Line Manager: David Blewitt
Artwork & Cover: Gordon Napier & Andrew
Hepworth
Chief Editor: Sue Turner
Layout by: - A.R.Cowley
Director of Anderian Designs Ltd.
E-mail: britgamedesigns@gmail.com
Or visit the Website at
http://www.britgamedesigns.com
ANDERIAN DESIGNS
Brittannia Game Designs and the designers of C&S 5th
Edition celebrate diversity among gamers and in our
games. In this edition of the classic medieval fantasy game
we encourage you to break away from the bland white,
male Middle Ages of yesteryear and make your game as
rich and varied as the Middle Ages really were.
If this does not reflect your vision of the Middle Ages, this
is not the game for you.
Cover artwork by Andrew Hepworth coloiured by
Gordon Napier
“Chivalry & Sorcery” is copyright Brittannia Game
Designs Ltd 2020.
The authors assert the moral right to be identified as
the authors of this work.
“Chivalry & Sorcery” and “C&S” are registered
trademarks of Brittannia Game Designs Ltd.
All rights reserved under UK and international
copyright conventions.
All of the characters and places described in this
book are fictitious and any resemblance to actual
persons, living or dead, is purely co-incidental. All
rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be re-produced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic
or otherwise without the prior permission of the
publishers and the copyright owner except for the
purpose of review.
A catalogue record is available from the British
Library:
ISBN 1-902500-24-9
3
4
 Glorious Table of Contents
The Legacy
of Creag Hill~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6
Gamemaster’s Notes...................................................6
Historical Note...............................................................6

The Scenario~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6
Introduction..................................................................6
Alternative Introduction..............................................7
What Really Happened to Sir Stephen?....................7
Sir Stephen’s Manor.....................................................8
Conducting Interviews...................................................8
Lady Rowena.................................................................8
Sir Stephen..................................................................10
Social Status: 32 BIF: 50.............................................................. 10
Brother Justinius..........................................................10
The Villagers................................................................10
Creag Hill.....................................................................11
The Hill by Night...........................................................12
The Roman Temple.....................................................13
Description...................................................................13
The Temple’s Secret....................................................14
New Magical Materials................................................14
New Spell.....................................................................15
Blessings of Danu............................................................
15
The Bandits’ Camp.....................................................15
The Bandits..................................................................15
The Main Road...........................................................16
The Feast.....................................................................17

Appendix A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~18

Appendix B
The Bestiary~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 20

5
 The Legacy
of Creag Hill
Gamemaster’s Notes
This adventure deals with the sudden mental illness
of a local knight, Sir Stephen, Lord of Briwtun
(Bruton), who rode out to a nearby hill to capture a
group of bandits, and the sudden disappearance of
the knights who accompanied him. An ancient and
malevolent faerie guardian stands sentinel over the
hill and still performs its appointed task after nearly
1500 years. The guardian presents a tough challenge
to any group of characters.
Curing Sir Stephen of his madness is not the
immediate goal of this adventure; it is defeating the
bandits is. Trying to cure the illness that affects the
Lord of Briwtun may involve many trips to Creag
(Creech) Hill and even visits to druids.
Although having a character with noble status can
make the character’s life easier it is not absolutely
necessary. If there is at least one such character
in the group then use the standard introduction
below. Otherwise, use the alternate notes on how to
introduce the characters to the plot.
A small band of characters of Levels 1 - 4 should
be able to handle this adventure with a modicum
of effort. The adventure is set in Somerset during
the early part of the 13th century, but can easily be
transposed to any campaign world with little effort.
Historical Note
The black guardian of Creag Hill is a real legend
in Somerset, England. The temple no longer stands
on the hill, nor can its foundations be seen, but
archaeological work has revealed that the hill
was used up to and including Saxon times. Some
finds can be found in Bruton Museum and further
information about the legend can be found by
contacting https://www.brutonmuseum.org.uk/
6
The Scenario
Introduction
Read or paraphrase the following:
Note: If using your own campaign, use a suitable
NPC.
Whilst resting at a friend’s manor house in rural
Somerset, the tranquillity of the characters’ evening
meal is disturbed by the constable for the market-town
of Briwtun, which lies just off the main highway
between London and Exeter. He is banging on the
manor’s door as if the Devil himself is hounding him.
The porter of the manor answers the door and
enquiries about the constable’s business. From where
the characters are gathered in the Great Hall they can
hear approaching footsteps and the porter say, “You’d
better come in and speak to my Lord about this”.
A few moments later the porter enters the Great Hall,
apologises for disturbing the Lord and his guests,
and introduces the constable of Briwtun, Glyn the
Stout. The constable is a large set individual and is
well over six feet in height, tall for people of this age.
His weathered face sports a neatly trimmed beard
and deep-set, steel blue eyes peer out from under his
long hair. He is dressed in dirty leather armour and
is visibly out of breath. He carries no weapon, having
left his spear at the front door.
The constable bows politely, steadies himself mentally
and then begins to speak to the assembled characters.
“My lords, I beg your pardon for disturbing you at
so late an hour,” he begins whilst still gasping for
breath. “I apologise if my speech is flustered, but I
have ridden hard without stopping for food nor sleep
from the town of Briwtun, for I know that the news I
bring will be of most import to your ears. My lord’s
wife, the fair Lady Rowena, did send me with news
and an urgent request.
“Bandits have been plaguing the road just outside
of Briwtun and my lord, Sir Stephen of Briwtun,
believed them to be camped out on a hill just above
the town. He rode forth five days ago with his three
vassal knights to bring the bandits to justice. Nothing
was seen of them for two days, until a farmer came to
my house with a most worried look upon his face and
urged me to follow him.

“When we got to the spot where the farmer was
digging his crops I saw poor Sir Stephen lying there
in the filth and muck laughing like a madman. His
armour was all dirty but I could see that he was not
wounded at all. He had lost his sword and shield, and
I could see no sign of his horse. There was neither sign
of the other knights, nor their horses either. We took
Sir Stephen back to his manor house and called for the
village priest, Brother Justinius, to come and tend to
him. My mistress then charged me to travel here and
bring you this news. Other lords have been asked to
help, but all have declined.
“Begging your lords’ pardon for speaking so foolishly,
but there is an old legend amongst the farmers who
live near the hill that an evil monster dwells on the
top. Lord Stephen, being a good Christian man,
never paid it much attention. Some say that the same
night Sir Stephen left the manor, the beast was seen
performing its strange dance atop the hill. The Lady
Rowena beseeches you Sirs in the name of merciful
God, please come and aid us in finding out what
happened to my master, and what has become of his
knights.”
The characters may know something of Sir
Stephen. Have each character make a Regional
History & Legend lore skill roll (substitute “Local”
if the character lives within 20 miles of Briwtun -
Gamemaster’s discretion if this is not being played
in Somerset).
Skills Check
Skill Used: Regional/National History & Legend lore p185
or Local History & Legend if brought up within 20 miles
Achieving: Good relations with Lady Rowena
How long: 3 min
TSC% Mods
Character has lived in local area for some time: +25% or
Success Crit:
01 - 08 The character knows that Sir Stephen is a loyal support of the
king and has fought at his side before.
09 - 10 The character knows that Sir Stephen is a loyal supporter of
the king and has fought with him on the Crusades. He also has an
unbetrothed daughter
Failure Crit:
01-09 The character has never heard of Sir Stephen.
10 The character mistakenly believes that Sir Stephen only follows the
king in word and not spirit and has plotted against him in the past.
Consequences:
Misjudgement of Sir Stephen’s relationship to the King could severely
taint any further interactions, especially from loyal Knightly or Noble
characters.
Actually, Sir Stephen is a generous man, treats his
peasants fairly and rules his lands wisely. Whilst
not exceptionally wealthy, he maintains a modest
manor and has three vassal knights in his permanent
service, each with their own manor on Sir Stephen’s
lands. Aiding him could certainly do no harm to the
characters’ reputations.
The town of Briwtun should be around two days
gentle ride from the characters’ current location
and Glyn the Stout asks to travel back with the
characters; to guide them as much as secure
protection from bandits and wild beasts. The hill
that the constable refers to is known locally as Creag
Hill and it is indeed haunted.
Alternative Introduction
If none of the characters are knights or nobles, they
have little reason to be dining in a lord’s manor
house. However, since all characters have a feudal
lord, whether they support him or not, getting them
there should be fairly easy.
They may be carrying a message for him and have
been invited to stay, or they may have been sent
to aid the lord in repaying a debt. Whatever the
reason, it needs to be for friendly reasons and one
that allows the characters to stay overnight. The
reason itself should not require an adventure, or
the characters are unlikely to enter this adventure
(unless this is their last night before they leave for
home).
What Really Happened to Sir
Stephen?
Sir Stephen and his three vassal knights left his
manor house late in the afternoon, planning to
surprise the bandits when they returned to their
camp after a day’s villainy. However, the bandit
camp was not on the hill as Sir Stephen had
presumed. Seeing the remains of the old temple
that stands on the summit of Creag Hill, Sir Stephen
decided that whilst he and his men were here they
would explore the place anyway. These were his
lands, but he had never had reason to visit the hill.
Chances are, he reasoned, the bandits may have
been here recently and left signs of their camp.
7
As night began to fall and, having found nothing
of interest, the knights were preparing to leave for
the comfort of their manors when the guardian of
the hill appeared and attacked the group. Driven
insane by the beast, Sir Stephen ran off into the
night, dropping his weapons and leaving his horse.
The other knights managed to flee from the creature
with their wits barely intact but were ambushed by
the bandits on their way back to Briwtun. In their
panicked state the knights were easily despatched.
Sir Stephen, by now a gibbering wreck, wandered
aimlessly around the edge of the hill for a day and a
night before collapsing in the farmer’s field where he
was later found.
Sir Stephen’s Manor
The journey to Briwtun should be fairly uneventful,
unless the Gamemaster wishes to prepare an
encounter or two in advance.
On arriving at the manor house, the characters are
met by Maurice, Sir Stephen’s butler, who greets
them, has their horses lead to the stables, and
welcomes them inside for food. He does not yet
know who the characters are or why they are at
the manor, but he is following standard custom by
offering the characters hospitality. He is polite but
a little reserved with his information. Any character
who has the special ability Sense Auras, will notice
that the butler seems suspicious of the characters,
but not overly so. Only when he is told that the
characters are at the manor in answer to the request
for aid send by Lady Rowena does he relax and
speak more freely.
Read or paraphrase the following:
When you arrive at the manor house of Sir Stephen
and Lady Rowena, their butler, Maurice, meets you
at the entrance. He politely arranges for your horses
to be taken care of but seems a little reserved in his
greeting. Glyn then approaches him and quietly
whispers in his ear. Maurice smiles and looks
greatly relieved. As he takes your travelling cloaks
he says, “I shall inform my mistress of your arrival
whilst you freshen up. I am sure that she will be
with you shortly. Unfortunately,” he adds, “my
lord is still bed-ridden and cannot come down to
welcome you personally although I am sure that in
his heart he thanks you. If you wish, hot water and
clean clothes can be made available to you”.
8
Conducting Interviews
Whilst at the manor the characters have chance to
speak with some of the occupants, in the hope of
gaining useful information, both any they meet prior
to being greeted by Lady Rowena, or afterwards.
Major personalities include the following but feel
free to include any others you think will enhance the
players’ enjoyment of the adventure.
Note: Stats for all of the following major NPC’s can
be found in Appendix A – NPC Stats.
Lady Rowena
Maurice informs Sir Stephen’s wife, the attractive
Lady Rowena, of the characters’ arrival. Lady
Rowena is a tall, slender woman of strong Celtic
blood whose clothing accentuates her perfect figure.
Her red hair is kept neatly up in a bun. As a young
woman she had many suitors and enjoyed flirting
with attractive young knights, but now she is
devoted to her family.
Read or paraphrase the following:
She greets the characters in the Great Hall whilst
they dine. “Brave men of the realm, I thank you most
kindly for offering your services so quickly. It is
reassuring to know that in moments of need there are
fellows who would so speedily aid a lady in distress.
As you are no doubt aware, my husband suffers from
an unknown malady and his vassal knights have
disappeared. You are most welcome to stay at the
manor house whilst you make your enquiries into my
husband’s sudden ill health and the disappearance of
our loyal retainers. I insist that during this time you
eat at my Lord’s table, which, alas, is deserted except
for myself. It would be my Lord’s wish.”
The manor is clean although it does not speak of
immense wealth. The rooms at the manor are spartan
in their furnishings but are comfortable and the food
and wine is of good quality.
Lady Rowena has no idea what happened to her
husband whilst he was hunting the bandits. If
questioned she merely answers, “When my husband
left here with his knights he was in good spirits and
anticipated being home before nightfall.”
If the characters know or have learnt of Lady
Rowena’s daughter and mention her in
conversation, Lady Rowena is immediately put her
on her guard and she begins to doubt the veracity of
the characters’ claims to be here to aid her husband.
After all, there is no reason for the characters to
bring her daughter into a conversation, especially
since they are strangers to Briwtun. Have the
characters make Courtly Manners or Diplomacy &
Politics rolls (their choice) before they ask such a
question.

Skills Check
Skill Used: Courtly Manners p195, or Diplomacy & Politics p163
Achieving: Good relations with Lady Rowena
How long: 3 min
TSC% Mods
Character has children: +10% or
Success Crit:
01 - 10 The character knows that openly asking about a host’s daughter
is bad etiquette, unless you know the host well.
Failure Crit:
01-09 The character does not know enough regarding etiquette to
understand, if asking about the daughter is wrong or not and has to
make up his own mind.
10 The character makes a complete fool of himself by asking if he can
see Lady Rowena’s daughter.
Consequences:
Any future dealings with Lady Rowena will need to be through a trusted
third party. Inquiring characters are informed icily that her daughter is
currently at Sarum (Salisbury). Wiser characters find out information
about the young lady by subtler questioning of the manor staff.

Characters who wish to learn more should make a

Charm or Hearing Rumours skill roll, depending on
whether they openly ask the staff or merely listen to
conversations.

Skills Check
Skill Used: Charm p161or Hearing Rumours p208
How long: 15 min
Achieving: Finding the scuttlebutt
TSC% Mods
None
Success Crit:
01 - 08 The character learns that the girl is called Madeline and is
currently staying in Sarum with friends.
09 - 10 The character discovers that Lady Rowena’s daughter, Madeline,
is staying with the Earl of Sarum, Sir Stephen’s cousin, and that Lady
Rowena is extremely protective of her.
Failure Crit:
01-09 The character simply learns that the daughter is not at home..
10 The character completely misunderstands anything he hears and
believes that her mother is holding the girl captive in one of the towers of
the manor house.

9
 Sir Stephen
Social Status: 32 BIF: 50

Sir Stephen currently rests in his bed and is still

insane. He continually speaks of the “dark one” and
the “horned beast”. His personal servants believe that
spirits possesses him. During his mad ramblings he
laughs continuously, shouts at the top of his lungs
and is frequently seized by fits. He is of no use to the
characters if they attempt to ask him questions about
his ordeal.

Brother Justinius
The local Christian priest, Brother Justinius, has
taken it upon himself to tend Sir Stephen around
the clock and can be found at his bedside at almost
every hour of the day. What little sleep he grabs is
at Sir Stephen’s bedside and his meals are taken up
to him. Only trips to the latrine cause him to leave
Sir Stephen’s side for any length of time. Brother
Justinius is a little overweight and has the tell-tale
bags under his eyes that go with a lack of sleep.
If questioned about Sir Stephen’s health he
emphatically tells the characters that “poor Sir
Stephen is possessed by the Devil himself!” If asked
about the legend of the creature on Creag Hill he
dismisses it as “peasant superstition and too much
strong drink.” No matter how hard he is questioned,
he does not venture any other opinion about Creag
Hill or its supposed inhabitant. He cannot be
persuaded to leave Sir Stephen’s side under any
circumstances.

The Villagers
The characters may wish to approach the inhabitants
of Briwtun to discover more tales of Creag Hill. It is
not common practise for nobles to question peasants
in matters such as these, but lower status characters
may have some luck. After all, few others are likely
to know the hill, or its legends, as well as the folk
that live near it.
The peasants, are extremely courteous and give the
nobility no reason to be offended with them, treat
nobles very well. However, they are also fairly aloof.
Common folk receive a more friendly welcome. The
locals, made up mainly of farmers and herdsmen,
are always pleased to hear news of other places.

10
Characters who question the peasants about legends Creag Hill
concerning the hill may attempt an appropriate
social skill, such as Charm. Intimidating a lord’s Creag Hill is a long wooded hill situated
peasants is not considered good practise and any approximately two miles north west of the market
strong-arm tactics get reported to Lady Rowena who town of Briwtun, which is in east Somerset. The hill
will make her displeasure known. Characters who is one of the tallest in Somerset and can be seen from
wish to use their own skills should use Regional Glastanbeorg (Glastonbury) Tor and Cadaerborgh
History & Legend (or Local if they live within 20 (Cadbury) Castle.
miles) skill, but suffer a penalty of -20% as the
stories are not that well known outside of Briwtun
and its environs.
If talking to the locals, noble characters suffer a
penalty of -1 to their Crit Die, whereas pagans
or those openly displaying pagan signs (such
as Witches or Druids) receive a +1 bonus. Both
modifiers apply whether the roll is successful or not.

Skills Check
Skill Used: Charm p161 or Regional/National History & Legend lore
p185
Achieving: Finding the scuttlebutt
How long: 1 hour
TSC% Mods
The hill, according to local history and superstition,
Distance : -20%
is haunted by a maniacal, large black figure that is
Noble: -1 to Crit Die
often seen bounding around the hilltop at night. The
Pagan: +1 to Crit Die locals do not venture onto the hill after sunset, save
Success Crit: for the direst of circumstances. On the summit of the
01 - 08 The character is told that a monster lives on the hill, but it only
hill stand the remains of an old Roman temple.
comes out at night.
09 - 10 The character is told that a nocturnal faerie guardian resides on The hilltop is some 215 feet higher than the
the hill and that there is an old temple there as well, in which stands a surrounding landscape and is only twelve feet wide
statue whose blood can cure the sick.
at the top, where it is relatively flat. An overgrown
Failure Crit:
01-09 The character only learns that a monster guards the hill. but passable trail leads up the hill and passes along
10 The character offends some local lads and the situation needs to
the entire length of the summit. From the summit,
be defused before a scuffle breaks out. If the character is making a the hill slopes away steeply to each side before it
Regional History & Legend (or Local) skill roll, he remembers that a begins to level out into farmland. The north side is
dragon lives on the hill. considerably steeper than the south side, although
Consequences: a little-used track winds down it. The hill is only
Possible fist fight breaks out lightly wooded, but the amount of ground ivy,
nettles and other such vegetation, the ground cover
is extremely thick, over two fee high in places,
making travel difficult.
During the autumn and winter, rain makes the
ground very slippery, and it is easy to lose one’s
footing. Horses have great difficulty climbing the hill
by any route other than one of the two trails (Animal
Riding rolls suffer a penalty of -30% and with Crit
Die 01 the horse breaks a leg). In the winter months,
a light mist seems to hang over the top of the hill,
adding to the peculiar atmosphere.

11
 Characters who make a successful Alertness: Sight
roll may notice that whilst birds can be seen nestling
in the trees and occasionally walking along the
ground foraging for food, there is no sign of any
actual ground animal life, such as badgers, voles or
rabbits.
Note: If a character has the skill Tracking Prey, he
may add his PSF% in this skill as a bonus to his
Alertness: Sight skill roll.
Upon the hilltop there once stood a temple to the
Celtic stag god, Cernunnos. When the Romans
invaded Britain in the 1st century AD they took over
the site, built their own temple on top of the existing
one and continued to worship Cernunnos, although
in the changed form of the Romanized stag-headed
god, Silvanus.
Given that the Romans only vacated the British Isles
comparatively recently, it is perhaps not surprising
that the temple is virtually intact. The elements have
done some minor damage to the outer walls of the
building and ivy now covers much of the stonework,
but, all things considered, it has faired very well.

The Hill by Night

At night, the hill is a much more daunting place. The
undergrowth seems thicker and the trees appear to
bunch together, making passage seem even more
difficult than it already is in the daylight. The air
temperature is also noticeably colder than elsewhere
in the area, sometimes by several degrees. The
characters certainly notice how their breath seems
suddenly frosty when they are on the hill.

Skills Check
Skill Used: Faerie Lore p214
Achieving: Identification of the Guardian
How long: Instant
TSC% Mods
Character has Elven Blood +30%
Success Crit:
01 - 08 The character recognises the creature as an UnSeelie faerie
guardian.
09 - 10 The character knows that whilst the creature, an UnSeelie faerie
guardian, is unlikely to cause physical harm it will have dark powers at
its disposal.
Failure Crit:
01-09 The character has no idea what the creature is.
10 The character mistakenly believes the creature to be a banshee.
Consequences:
Applying the wrong information could give away advantages to the
guardian.

12
Anyone remaining on or near the hill for more
than a few minutes hears footsteps behind them,
although no one can be seen. Distant, cackling
laughter can also be heard on moonless nights.
During the hours of darkness the guardian prowls
the hilltop, looking for those who would trespass
upon the site that it has been bound to protect.
Adventuring characters are considered as fair
game to the guardian in the same way as unarmed
peasants are.
The guardian gives anybody trespassing thirty
minutes to be gone from the hill before it
materialises and begins to torment them. It gives
no warning to trespassers that they are on a
time restriction, neither does it warn them of its
impending arrival. Once started, only the coming
of dawn or the trespassers leaving the hill stops it
tormenting them further. In the latter case this is not
always enough, as the creature delights in the terror
it causes.
Upon seeing the guardian, the characters may
recognise it from general legends and superstitions.
Have each make a Faerie Lore roll.
The Roman Temple
Description
The temple itself is divided into two sections. The
outer most section was open to the public and
allowed them somewhere to pray in peace and to
discuss matters that troubled them with the priests.
The inner area, known as the sanctum, which houses
a statue of the god, was open only to the priests who
attended the temple. Members of the public were
forbidden from entering the sanctum on penalty of
flogging.
The inner walls and floor of the temple sanctum
are covered in mosaics depicting mundane scenes.
Although weathering and plant growth have
damaged some of the mosaics, they are still clearly
discernible. Each mosaic had a specific meaning,
mostly for propaganda purposes, to the priests
who designed them. Although the mosaics have no
relevance to the adventure, they are included as a
red herring.
The north wall mosaic depicts a legion of Roman
legionnaires travelling down a paved road. This
signified the strength of Rome and its armies and
also showed that the Roman army could quickly
reach anywhere it wanted.
13
The east wall mosaic shows a band of Romans
hunting a wild boar and was designed to show that
the Romans were lovers of sport as well as fighting.
In some respects it also shows the Roman’s mastery
of nature.
The southern wall mosaic shows a collection of non-
Romans offering gifts to a Roman lord, signifying
that the local people adored their Roman overlords.
This was not always true but this was of little
concern to the priests who designed it.
The west wall mosaic shows a group of priests
dressed completely in white and holding hands
to form a ring whilst a naked man stands in the
middle. This is actually a representation of an old
Roman healing rite once performed at the temple.
The floor of the temple is covered in an ornate
mosaic floor, but it is cracked and beginning to
crumble where plants have forced their way through
the ground.
A slightly damaged stone statue of the horned god
Silvanus stands in the centre of the inner sanctum,
his arms spread wide, facing the rising sun. The face
of the statue is carved so the god seems to be glaring
at those who would dare to enter his sanctum.
Pagan-oriented or well learned characters
(Gamemaster’s call) that see the statue may
recognise it.
Skills Check
Skill Used: Theology p230
Achieving: Identification of Statue
How long: Instant
TSC% Mods
Christian: -30%
Success Crit:
01 - 09 The character recognises it as a Romano-Celtic god, but cannot
remember which one..
10 The character recognises the statue as a Roman representation of
the Celtic god, Cernunnos, the god of wild nature.
Failure Crit:
01-09 The character does not recognise the god.
10 The character mistakes it for the Roman god, Jupiter, who is often
depicted as wearing horns.
14
The Temple’s Secret
This secret is known to the locals and is cause for
great celebration twice a year. Each spring, on
the High Holy Day of Silvanus, (July 13 western
or July 30 eastern) blood drips from the statue’s
chest, where the heart would be in a normal man.
On mid-winter’s day the statue cries tears of
water. No logical explanation can be found for this
phenomenon.
The current locals know of this miraculous event,
and some even come to watch it unfold over the
course of the day, although they keep it a secret in
case the Christian priests ever hear of it and destroy
the statue. It is said that the blood and water can
be used to heal sick animals and plants, as well
as humans. Enough blood or water flows to fill a
typical one-pint drinking flagon. The blood or water
has to be prepared (MR reduced to Enchanted)
before it can be used and both contain powerful
magicks, but only appear once per year.
Aside from its uses in other potions and spells, each
has two very specific powers. If the blood is used
in a healing potion, it increases the caster’s ML by
+2 (for the effects of the potion only). If the water
is used in a potion containing the Plant Magick
spells Demeter’s Touch or Blessings of Danu, any
crops sprinkled with it are exceptionally healthy the
following harvest (usual spell effect plus a bonus of
+10% to PSF% in Field Crops, Fruit Crops, Vegetable
Crops or Viniculture rolls and a bonus of +1 to the
Crit Die).
Of course, using bodily fluids from a pagan god is
an ungodly act and Christian characters may balk at
physically having to drink or use potions etc. which
contain these. Christian characters must test their
Piety if they wish to use any of the liquids.
If the characters somehow discover the healing
powers of the blood or tears, they may use either
to cure Sir Stephen of his madness. Once again,
Christians may refuse to allow a good follower of
the faith to be healed by such pagan methods so
some form of persuasion or guile might be needed.
New Magical Materials
Blood of Cernunnos: Earth, MRF 5, ½ pint: Healing;
Purification; Exorcism
Tears of Cernunnos: Earth, MRF 5, ½ pint: Plant Growth;
Plants; Fertility
New Spell

Blessings of Danu
Magick Resistance:........................................................... MR 7
Fatigue Cost:.................................................................... 13 FP
Casting Time:..................................................... Ritual (3 days)
Range:................................................................... 7 acres x ML
Duration:...................................................................... 1 season
Known by many names, this spell affects the growth rate and
yield of plants. Plants yield triple their normal crops and are
resistant to drought and disease. The spell can be cast on a
particular group of plants only once per season.

The Bandits’ Camp

As can be seen on the Gamemaster’s map, the
bandits’ camp actually lies some five miles to the
north of Creag Hill and is situated just off the trail.
By following the trail from Creag Hill the characters
can easily discover the camp.
The camp is actually little more than three makeshift
shelters constructed from leaves and branches,
and a small fire-pit with several cooking pots near
it. Under a tarpaulin in the largest shelter is the
bandits’ acquired booty. They plan to sell most of
it in Dorsetshire, where they know it will fetch a
good price. They had originally planned to leave
for Dorsetshire after killing Sir Stephen’s knights,
but after coming up with the plan to impersonate
the knights, they now plan to stay in the area until
things become too dangerous for them. The booty
is worth a total of 142 Crowns and any characters
taking it for personal gain are technically stealing.
If the booty is searched, the characters will find no
sign of any weapons, armour or shields that could
belong to Sir Stephen’s missing knights. The reason
for this is that the bandits are using it as part of
their plan. They are posing as knights guarding the
road to Briwtun and are then robbing travellers and
merchants who pass that way.

The Bandits

How Many!?
During the day there are no bandits at the camp;
they are all out robbing innocent travellers. As
evening settles in they return to the area to check
the snare traps they have set. They cook and eat any
game they have caught, whilst inspecting the booty
gained that day. This takes about two hours and two
bandits are on watch at all times.

15
During the night the bandits take watch in pairs,
Skills Check
swapping every three hours. If they see or hear
anything they instantly shout to warn their Skill Used: Heraldry p195
colleagues. After killing three knights they know Achieving: Correct interaction with NPC’s based on knowledge of their
that they are hunted men and take no chances. heraldic achievement displayed.
How long: Instant
The dead knights’ stolen horses (light warhorses)
TSC% Mods
are tethered to a tree on the edge of camp and whilst
Familiarity: +10%
the bandits obviously keep an eye on them, they are
not especially protected or watched. Anyone trying Success Crit:
01 - 10 The character spots that the knights’ shields bear the crest of Sir
to free the horses quietly needs to calm them as they Stephen.
are jittery. A successful Animal Training, Drover or Failure Crit:
Calm & Attract Animals skill roll is required; both of 01-09 The character does not recognise the device, but it looks familiar..
which will be at a penalty of –10%. 10 The character believes the shields bear the crest of one of the
character’s (or his Lord’s) allies.
Consequences:
If the characters successfully recognise the device they realise that since
Skills Check Sir Stephen only has three knights in his service, these must be the ones
that rode onto the hill with him.
Skill Used: Animal Training p152 or Drover p150 or a Calm & Attract
Animals p196
Achieving: Free the horses in a quite and calm manner
Once the two groups are close enough to see each
other’s faces clearly, the characters see that the
How long: 1 min
“knights” are somewhat dirty and unshaven. If the
TSC% Mods
characters ask the “knights” any questions referring
Animals are already uneasy -10%
to Sir Stephen or their service with him they attack
Success Crit: immediately. They realise they have been rumbled
01 - 10 The animals remain quiet whilst approached.
and know that being caught now would mean a
Failure Crit:
01-09 The horses whinny at the character’s approach. Allow the bandit
painful death.
sentries to make an Alertness: Sound roll to notice this..
However, if the characters ask what the “knights”
10 The horses go berserk and try to bolt. The guards automatically hear
are doing on the road they merely say that they are
this and come to investigate, after waking their comrades.
“guarding the road from bandits”. Likewise, asking
Consequences:
where they come from elicits only the vague answer
The horses give away the characters presence, possibly even injuring
the characters if they go bereserk. of “around here”. The bandits try to be as vague as
possible, guessing (wrongly) that the characters are
merely passing through the area and are being polite
to fellow travellers.
The Main Road
If the characters travel along the main road to
Briwtun for any reason they come across a party of
three “knights” sat on their horses by the side of the
road. Each has his “squire” with him. The knights
have not erected any pavilions and it is obvious to
the characters that they are not planning to stay for
any length of time. These “knights” are actually the
bandits who ambushed and killed Sir Stephen’s
knights.
As the characters approach, the bandits turn to face
them, displaying the heraldry on their shields. Have
the characters make Heraldry rolls.

16
The Feast
Once the bandits have been successfully dealt with
(either killed or handed over to the town constable
to await trial by higher authority), the characters
can report the fate of Sir Stephen’s retainers to his
wife. Considering Lady Rowena’s current state the
characters should attempt to break their news with
some modicum of tact.
Skills Check
Skill Used: Diplomacy & Politics p152
Achieving: The soft disclosure of news
How long: 1 min
TSC% Mods
Familiarity: +10%
Success Crit:
01 - 09 The character breaks the news gently and without upsetting Lady
Rowena too much.
01 - 09 The character breaks the news with considerable aplomb and
although Lady Rowena is upset, she thanks the group bravely and
attempts to continue with her duties.
Failure Crit:
01-09 The character delivers the news bluntly and Lady Rowena
becomes distraught.
10 Showing as much tact as a falling tree, the character reduces Lady
Rowena to tears with his tale and causes her to depart from the feast
immediately.
Consequences:
Lady Rowena is upset by the news, regardless of how well the knights
broke it to her, but has suspected the worst all along. To honour the
characters’ endeavours, Lady Rowena has a modest feast prepared for
them. The only other attendees are the families of the deceased vassal
knights.
During her husband’s illness Lady Rowena is officially in charge of
the manor and its welfare. During the feast she stands and offers the
characters a reward
Should Sir Stephen have been cured of his malady
then he makes a similar offer.
Each character that accepts receives a position
appropriate to his background skill. Nobles who
accept receive a small, unfortified manor house
with an accompanying farm. The manors were
used by Sir Stephen’s deceased knights but were
not hereditary lands; instead reverting to Sir
Stephen upon the knights’ demise. The characters
should not feel as if they have to accept the offer -
this is merely an additional reward for a party of
characters who are looking for a home-base from
which to adventure. Gamemasters who do not wish
to present positions to the characters or in parties
where there are no knights may instead offer them
100 Crowns each in goods as their reward.
If the characters turn down the offer of service, for
any reason, each of them is thanked warmly for
their help and given 100 Crowns worth of goods
as a reward. An additional 100 Crowns worth of
goods are given if Sir Stephen was cured during the
adventure.
The characters have also made useful allies in Sir
Stephen and Lady Rowena and may stand a chance
of successfully courting their daughter, although
that is another story.
If the characters cure Sir Stephen and accept the
offer of employment, their first task is to travel to
Sarum and escort Sir Stephen’s daughter Madeline
back to Briwtun, but that is yet another story.

“Sirs! You have despatched the bandits that have

been troubling these parts and for that I thank-you.
Alas my husband’s retainers have been most
cruelly slain by the brigands and our lands
are defenceless. Kind sirs, would you accept a
permanent position in my husband’s household
as his retainers?”

17
 Appendix A
Lady Rowena of Briwtun
6th Level Human Female Noble Armour
Vocation: Noblewoman Heavy Clothing (6 / 5 / 4 / 5 / 5)
Social Status: 30 BIF: 47 Height: 5’4” Wt: 95 lb
Hair: Red Eyes: Blue Complexion: Fair Weapons
Dagger 3 PSF% 43 TSC%
BOD: 29 FAT: 22 Damage 4P
BAP: 13
Personality
STR 10 (58%) INT 15 (76%) APP 20 (90%) Lady Rowena is the beautiful wife of Sir Stephen, the
CON 09 (54%) WIS 16 (79%) BV 16 (79%) ruler of Briwtun. She is elegant, witty, charming and totally
DEX 13 (70%) DISC 13 (70%) SPR 14 (73%) devoted to her husband and his welfare. Underneath her
AGL 11 (62%) FER 15 (76%) CHA 17 (82%) composed and pleasant exterior lurks a fiery temper that
has made battle-hardened knights flee her presence.
DT 5 Knights who try to take advantage of her in any manner will
BMR 0 SPRINT 8 soon regret it!

Base Skills PSF% TSC% She and Sir Stephen have been married for fifteen years
Alertness-Sight 18% 25% and have but a single daughter, Madeline, who was born
Alertness-Sound 7% 9% the year after their wedding. Since then they have had
Stamina 6% 46%
Honour: 9

no luck in their attempts to produce more offspring. Lady

Dodge 3% 53% Rowena is extremely protective of her daughter and
Will Power 5% 45% potential suitors have to perform a variety of tasks to prove
Language(Own) 0% 61% that they are worthy enough to marry the girl. Madeline is
Faith 0% 20% currently at Sarum, staying with relatives. Her mother sent
Brawling 0% 50% her there so she would not see her father in his current
state.
Relevant Skills PSF% TSC%
Local Geography 24% 84%
Animal Riding (horse) 18% 78%
Diplomacy & Politics 21% 71%
Read Write Latin 15% 65%
Sewing & Knitting 21% 54%
Courtly Dancing 18% 59%
Courtly Manners 21% 60%
First Aid 9% 59%
Heraldry 12% 52%
Local History & Legend 6% 66%

18
 The Bandits - (6)
2nd Level Human Male Fighters Two different categories of bandit currently make up the
Vocation: Warrior members of this band; those using low quality armour and
Social Status: Height: 5’7” Wt: 170 lb weapons, and those who have donned the armour and
weapons of Sir Stephen’s vanquished knights and who
BOD: 39 FAT: 26 now pose as servants of the King.
BAP: 11
False Knights
STR 12 (66%) INT 08 (50%) APP 10 (58%)
CON 13 (70%) WIS 10 (58%) BV 10 (58%) Armour
DEX 11 (62%) DISC 13 (70%) SPR 10 (58%) Maille Hauberk (9 / 9 / 8 / 9 / 7)
AGL 12 (66%) FER 10 (58%) CHA 10 (58%) No Helm

DT 5 Weapons
BMR 0 SPRINT 8 Cavalry Lance 0 PSF% 10 TSC%
Damage 16P Crit Die +1, Bash 9+
Base Skills PSF% TSC%
Alertness-Sight 6% 13% Longsword 18 PSF% 48 TSC%
Alertness-Sound 6% 13% Damage 11S Crit Die +1, Bash 7+
Stamina 3% 43%

Honour: 21 (25)
Dodge 0% 50%
Will Power 0% 40%
Language(Own) 0% 60%
Faith 0% 20%
Brawling 0% 40%

Relevant Skills PSF% TSC%

Local Geography 0% 60%
Animal Riding (horse) 18% 58%
Spears 21% 61%
Slashing Swords 18% 48%
Wear Light Armour comp

Armour
Leather (6 / 5 / 4 / 5 / 5)

Weapons
2H Inf. Spear 21 PSF% 61 TSC%
Damage 13P Crit Die +1, Bash 9+

Longsword 18 PSF% 48 TSC%

Damage 11S Crit Die +1, Bash 7+

19
Appendix B
The Bestiary
The creature who guards Creag Hill is described
by those few unfortunates who have got close to it
as a black humanoid without any distinguishable
features. A few talk of it having horns, but none
would swear by it.
However, what is quite clear is that the creature
is very agile and can sometimes be seen leaping
and bounding around the hilltop, as if performing
some strange dance. It also possesses great stamina,
exceptional speed and never seems to become
fatigued. The creature has neither the ability, nor
the desire, to speak to mortals. The creature is
exceptionally cruel, does not care whom it victimises
and knows no mercy.
The creature is dispelled by sunlight. At first dawn,
the creature suddenly vanishes and all those
currently affected by its powers return to normal.
20
However, those who are suffering long-term
effects must still wait until the powers’ effect ends
naturally.
The creature is an ancient and powerful UnSeelie,
bound here by the Celtic druids who once
worshipped here to guard the hill. When the
Romans came it tormented them, even though they
worshipped an aspect of Cernunnos, and the priests
would only visit the site during the day, preferring
to live in the nearby settlement at Briwtun during
the hours of darkness rather than staying in the
temple grounds.
The creature is unlikely to be harmed by the
characters as it can only be harmed by iron weapons
or by weapons specifically designed to harm faeries.
It does not attempt to avoid any of the blows. Should
the creature be reduced to zero Body Points or lower
it is temporarily dispelled, returning completely
healed on the night of the next full moon.
 The Guardian of Creag Hill
Height: 6’2” Wt: 200 lb Unholy Scream of the Ancient Soul (60 PSF):
Everyone within 50 feet (15 metres) of the creature who
BOD: 50 FAT: 50 hears it scream, and covering one’s ears does not help,
BAP: 23 Jump: 10’ must make a Willpower roll or flee until out of sight and at
DT 8 least a mile from the creature. If the roll is a Failure with a
BMR 10 SPRINT 27 Crit Die of 10, the victim goes indefinitely insane.

Base Skills PSF% TSC% While fleeing, the victim does almost anything to get away.
Stamina 27% 67% If prevented from fleeing, the victim may cower in terror, roll
Dodge 21% 61% up in a ball, or, in very rare circumstances, he might enter
Will Power 24% 64% a berserk state. Characters who are berserk when initially
Language(Own) 0% 60% encountering this power are unaffected by it.

A favourite trick of the creature is to chase individuals who

Relevant Skills PSF% TSC% are fleeing, so forcing them to keep running until they drop
Folk Dancing 40% 90% from exhaustion. The creature can keep up with any human
Faerie Lore 70% 110% or animal, regardless of its ground speed, if it succeeds in

Armour
Natural Hide (3 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3)
Special Powers:
The creature has several special powers that do not translate
well as standard spells. Each power cannot fail to work, but some
can be resisted. For this reason, each resisted power has a PSF
value).
Transfixing the Mortal Body (55 PSF):
This power allows the creature to root a mortal to the spot,
making it impossible to move. The victim receives a Willpower
test to break free, but if that roll fails the victim is stuck to the spot
until sunrise, or until the creature cancels the effect. The victim
may use his arms, however, although any combat receives a
-20% PSF penalty due to the limited balance. If the resistance roll
is a Failure on a Crit Die of 10 the victim is completely paralysed.
All those within 18 feet (5 metres) of the creature are affected.
The creature may use its other powers whilst this power is active.
Honour: 40
a Stamina roll.
Maniacal Laughter of the Insane Spirit:
The laughter of the creature deafens mortals and disturbs
their ability to concentrate on tasks. There is no resistance
to this; all skills suffer a -13% PSF penalty while the beast
laughs. In addition, all those who hear the sound, and
covering one’s ears does not help, must make appropriate
Language skill checks to be able to make out what others
are saying to them, the laughter drowning out all other
sounds. This power lasts until the creature stops laughing.
Incorporeal to Nature’s Body:
The creature can freely pass through, and is passed
through by, wood and earth (includes all metals except
cold iron), including items made of these substances. Such
items pass straight through the creature as if it does not
exist. The creature takes great delight in watching mortals’
reactions as they try desperately to harm it.

21
22
23
 Creag Hill
Adventure Supplement

Set in Somerset in the Year of our Lord 1184 is an

Adventure of investigation for characters of 1st - 4th
Level of mixed vocations.

In this investigation of the madness of Sir Stephen, the

heroes are asked to investigate the strange affliction
of a trusted lord. What follows will pitch them against
brigands and a creature of legend which has haunted the
land for centuries.

24
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
several thousands every year, but in 1902 they sank to the
comparatively small total of 600. But whilst every endeavour is made
to govern the country on lines acceptable to and understood by the
people, there are, of course, some points on which the policy of a
civilized government is necessarily in opposition to very deep-rooted
customs and habits to such a degree as to completely upset the old
basis of social life. In a minor degree this is true of the partial
application of the game laws to natives, but of far greater importance
is our attitude towards the institution of slavery and the slave-trade.
The occupation of the Soudan has been a tremendous blow to
slavery; one of the principal recruiting-grounds for slaves has
practically been closed. A certain amount of slave-raiding goes on
along the Abyssinian frontier. Descents are periodically made by
parties one to two hundred strong, well armed, from the south-
western districts of Abyssinia. They raid the Barun negroes, and
carry off the women and children. The same kind of thing is apt to
happen on the Darfur frontier, and some of the remote tribes in the
same quarter sometimes raid each other with the object of getting
slaves. Some of these, but not many, find their way to Dongola, or
the Ghezireh; others are taken to Tripoli. Special steps have now
been taken by the Anti-Slavery Department of the Egyptian
Government, which now has its headquarters at Khartoum, to put
down this traffic. Two extra English inspectors have been posted,
one at Rosaires, on the Blue Nile, the other at El Obeid. They are to
form small mounted corps of the best Arabs and patrol the disturbed
districts.
Apart from the actual work done, it will be a great thing to enlist
the best of the Arab tribesmen in the Government service, and it is
hoped that they will in time form the nucleus of an effective native
police. These men have been in the past some of the principal
exponents of slave-catching themselves; they ought to be very adept
at their new business. With these exceptions the slave-trade within
the borders of the Soudan has practically disappeared. During the
first year or two captures were occasionally made of small caravans,
but very heavy penalties were imposed. There is still a constant
demand for slaves in Arabia, and once a slave is shipped over the
Red Sea a good profit is assured. But it is too dangerous now for
anyone to try to make a regular livelihood by it. There are still,
however, about twenty cases a year of trials for offences against the
slavery laws, mostly isolated cases of kidnapping a woman or a
child, and probably there is besides a fair proportion of undetected
cases. But the regular trade is pretty well stamped out.
The benefits of the abolition of slave-raiding and kidnapping are
immediate and obvious to everyone. Even the Arab can understand
them, but he finds it very difficult to appreciate our attitude—which,
needless to say, is uncompromising enough—towards slavery as a
domestic institution. It is the one serious complaint which he has
against the new government. His domestic habits and customs have
been completely based on slavery for centuries. Slavery is permitted
and recognised by the Koran. In most cases the slaves themselves
have been treated more like members of the family than as slaves,
and no doubt many of them have had far happier lives than they
would have had in their own villages. Nor is it difficult to point to evils
which have arisen from the emancipation of the slaves. It is a
melancholy fact that many of the towns in the Soudan are crowded
with freed slaves, too lazy to do anything but steal, while the women
have recourse to an even less reputable occupation. It is easier to
break down the social system of centuries than to build up a sounder
fabric in its place. But the thing had absolutely to be done if the
Soudan was to have a real regeneration. Even when the slaves have
been well treated, the demoralization caused by slavery has been
great. The Arabs have all the vices of a slave-owning people. It was
a good time to make an absolutely fresh start. All changes of such
magnitude are bound to produce dislocations. The evils of the
change will die out with the present generation. The good must be
waited for patiently, but it is sure to come.
 CHAPTER XIX
EDUCATION AND THE GORDON COLLEGE

Probably the last thing that a military government might be

expected to take an interest in is education, and yet few educational
establishments are so widely famous as the Gordon College at
Khartoum. As yet it owes its reputation to the fact that it was founded
by one great soldier in memory of another, not to its achievements; it
was born great. But already it has justified its founders; its mere
existence marks an extraordinary contrast between the character of
the present régime in the Soudan and that of any preceding.
Whenever the Soudan is mentioned, the first question asked is,
‘How is the Gordon College getting on?’ and the question cannot be
answered in a word. The actual building is indeed for the present
complete. It is a handsome structure of native red brick, built in the
Moorish style, but retaining the collegiate character. It occupies two
sides of a square, the front facing on the river. In the centre is the
principal entrance, and over it a tower. If the original design is finally
carried out, the whole quadrangle will be completed. Along the inside
runs a cool and airy cloister, with winding stairs leading to the upper
story; the class-rooms are spaciously designed. Its commanding
position at the east end of the town makes it a conspicuous
landmark for many miles round. From no point is this so remarkable
as from the hill of Surgham, which overlooks the battlefield of Kerreri.
Here is summed up much of the past and the future of the Soudan.
On the one hand is the scene of the final overthrow of the forces of
darkness and ignorance by war; on the other the symbols of that
longer contest for the conquest of the Soudan by the peaceful arts of
science and learning.
With the eye of faith it is easy to look forward into the future, and
to imagine the time, generations hence, when the Gordon College
will be a true centre of learning for all these vast territories. Then it
will stand, a completed quadrangle, in the middle of large gardens,
its own territory, as green and cultivated as they are now arid and
dusty. Its halls and class-rooms will be crowded with picked students
from all the provincial centres, not vainly pursuing a dry and vain
scholasticism, as in the other degenerate Universities of the
Mohammedan East, but eagerly following in the paths of living
science, and learning by practical teaching in the laboratory and
workshop to wrest from Nature her secrets, and to absorb the
principles underlying practice in the departments of chemistry and
medicine, mechanics, agriculture, and the arts. Perhaps once more,
in years to come, the culture and science of the Arabs will be as
famous as they were in the great days of Arab dominion.
It is a long way to travel from such stimulating forecasts to the
actual state of learning and education in the Soudan to-day. There
was not much learning under the Egyptians, but at least a certain
amount of theological study went on. Under the Khalifa even that
was sedulously discouraged, and the books were ordered to be
destroyed because he feared that they might tend to discredit the
unorthodox doctrine of Mahdism. Reading and writing were not likely
to flourish under a ruler who, possessing neither of these arts
himself, and entertaining strong suspicions of those who did, was
wont to give drastic expression to his views. As a consequence,
there never was a country more absolutely and wholly illiterate.
Writing is practically an unknown art, and reading hardly less so. It is
perfectly useless to post a Government Proclamation unless a
competent person is stationed by it to read it out to any passer-by. At
the same time, there flourishes the most exaggerated respect for a
written document, which is regarded as a kind of magic book, and
cases have been known in which swindlers have extorted large
sums of money by going round exhibiting a paper professing to be
an order to pay issued by the Government. Obviously, education has
had to be on very humble lines at first, and must continue so for
some time.
Was, then, the Gordon College a too ambitious attempt to
anticipate the future? Is it a mere white elephant, doomed to be a
vain monument of an ill-directed wave of enthusiasm? Such a view is
far from the truth. It would be strange indeed if a project so dear to
the heart of Lord Kitchener was of such a nature. Certainly, it is
impossible to start a complete University right away with a building
and an endowment of some £4,000 a year. Time is of the essence of
the question. It is possible to argue that the money used in the
building might have been more advantageously expended in other
ways. But, apart from the fact that the subscribers doubtless wished
to see some immediate result for their munificence, I am sure that it
was the right policy to build at once.
For the Gordon College, though not yet a University, is much
more than a college. It is the centre of all the new educational and
intellectual influences in the Soudan. Its director is also head of the
Education Department; the activities of both are inseparably
connected. It acts as an extraordinary stimulus upon the authorities
in the direction of education. It would have been so easy and so
natural for a Government so hard beset for money to neglect
education for other objects, apparently more practical and more
immediately pressing. The actual material presence of the college
makes it impossible for its claims to be overlooked. Very likely
without it there would not have been an Education Department at all.
Secondly, but for the existence of the building, the Soudan would
certainly never have obtained such valuable gifts as those of Mr.
Wellcome’s bacteriological laboratory and Sir W. Mather’s complete
technical workshop apparatus, containing all that is necessary for the
establishment and organization of departments for manual training
and technical instruction. Thirdly, the building itself has been already,
and will be to an increasing extent, of the greatest use; and,
moreover, there is still about £100,000 of the original endowment
remaining, the income from which is playing a great part, as will be
shown, in providing the beginnings of education in the Soudan, and
so laying the foundations for the future work of the college itself. Lord
Kitchener was wiser than his critics. Among his many claims to fame,
none is greater than the clearness with which he saw that a sound
educational system is one of the fundamental requirements of the
Soudan, as well as a substantial foundation for our rule.
 In 1901 the Soudan Government spent £1,421 on education, in
addition to the Gordon College endowment; in 1902, £3,577; and in
1903 something over £6,000. With such resources as these, it is
obvious that nothing heroic could be attempted. Only the more
immediate needs could be attended to. Looking to the necessity for
the education of a class of native public servants, it was most
important to establish some sound primary schools, in which the
boys should be given a fair general education in reading, writing, and
arithmetic, besides a certain amount of history and geography and
English. Four of these schools are now in existence; two of them,
those at Halfa and Suakin, were established some eight or nine
years ago by the Egyptian Government, and have only recently been
handed over to the Soudan; they are in an efficient condition. The
most interesting, considering their recent establishment, are those at
Khartoum and Omdurman. That at Omdurman was the first, the
direct offspring of the Gordon College. It now numbers over 200
pupils, and is in a most flourishing condition. There are constant
applications for admission, partly, no doubt, from the reason that
pupils of the school are thought likely to obtain Government
employment, but partly also from a real appreciation of the
advantages of education.
The school course is divided into four years, and the curriculum is
based on the Egyptian one—modified to the extent that no subjects
are taught in English, except English itself. An inspection of the
school made it clear to me that, at any rate, in the subject which I
could understand—the teaching of English—the methods were
thoroughly sound, and the results good. Pupils in their last year are
also taught land-measuring. The reason is the great demand which
comes from every province for land-measurers—a most important
thing in view of the assessments for the land-tax—while no trained
men are available. This part of the work is taught both in the class-
room and practically in the field. I am certain that in a very short time
there will be land-measurers available of very good ability, so
excellent was the quality of some of the work done.
Some, of course, of these boys are the sons of Egyptians in the
Government service, to whom it is a great blessing to be able to get
a good education for their children on the spot. But far the majority of
them—at least 90 per cent.—are genuine Soudanese, some of them
members of good Arab families, whose fathers were prominent in the
service of the Khalifa. Originally it was intended that this school
should be transferred to Khartoum, and housed in the college as
soon as the general exodus took place. But as Omdurman shows no
signs at present of diminishing, and is, indeed, once more
increasing, the school has been kept on, and another started on
similar lines in Khartoum itself. This school is also flourishing, but it
naturally contains a larger proportion of the Egyptian-born pupils;
altogether it has about 120 scholars. This school is now housed in
the Gordon College itself.
Book-learning is not the only channel of instruction employed. I
had the good fortune to be umpire in the first football match between
Khartoum and Omdurman schools, in the mosque square at
Khartoum. It was a hot afternoon, and I felt as though I should get a
sunstroke whilst umpiring; but these boys, all hatless as they were,
played with great energy, and appeared to derive nothing but benefit
from the heat. They played a good game, and it was pleasant to see
that what they lacked in experience they made up in courage and
determination. All the players, of whatever shade of black or brown,
and the shades were very various, showed a spirit which augurs well
for the future. Anybody who can play football with energy in Central
Africa must have good stuff in him. The match was drawn.
In another direction also an encouraging start has been made.
There is at present in the Soudan no skilled native labour;
blacksmiths, tinsmiths, carpenters, and bricklayers, are all in
demand, and have to be imported from outside at great trouble and
expense. In the hope of meeting this demand, an industrial school
has been established at the Dockyard Works, which are now on the
river at Omdurman, but which will eventually be moved to Halfaya.
The head of the Steamboat Department agreed to take in sixty boys
as apprentices. These are divided into two shifts of thirty each, and
they alternately receive a day’s schooling and do a day’s practical
work at their separate trades as carpenters, fitters, or riveters. In
school their time is divided between reading, writing, and arithmetic,
and also drawing. The plan has been found to answer admirably. Not
only does the education they receive improve their intelligence as
workers, but some of the boys have shown such proficiency in
drawing that they are able to copy engineering and building designs
with such accuracy as to be able to relieve the English
superintendents of a good deal of work. Many of these boys are
sons of men employed in unskilled labour at the works, who take the
greatest interest in seeing their sons advance so far beyond
themselves. Many applications for admission have to be refused,
and there is little doubt that when Sir W. Mather’s technical school at
the Gordon College is in full swing, it will fill a great need in the
requirements of the country.
On the whole, the most difficult task which the Director of
Education has to face is that of diffusing the elements of knowledge
among the masses of the people. The great distances to be covered
alone impose a tremendous obstacle. But it is extremely important
that at least a portion of the population should be able to understand
the outlines of the machinery of government as laid down in notices
and proclamations, so as to be able to protect themselves against
the exactions of minor officials and the frauds and deceits practised
on them by wandering rogues. It has wisely been determined to
proceed along the lines laid down by Mohammedan tradition. The
kuttabs, or preliminary schools, are a well-known part of the ordinary
religious organization. They are supposed to give instruction in
reading and writing and the Koran, and there are many of them
scattered over the Soudan, as in other Mohammedan countries.
They are, in fact, a sort of private elementary school, something like
the old dames’ schools once existing in parts of England.
Unfortunately, they are almost entirely useless at present. The
teachers are incredibly ignorant. What little instruction they give is
confined to teaching by rote certain passages from the Koran, the
meaning of which is understood by neither pupil nor teacher. The
buildings are usually filthy to the last degree. The idea is to establish
model kuttabs in different parts of the Soudan, and to make them as
efficient as possible, so as to improve the others by their example.
To quote the words of the Director:
 ‘The process of formation has been in all cases the same. With the help of the
Mudir, a suitable building is put up; then the least incompetent sheikh that can be
procured is installed. After confidence has been established, and the nucleus of a
school formed, he is superseded by a trained teacher from Egypt, who, under the
local supervision of the Mudir and occasional supervision from my office, begins to
reduce chaos to order.’

Progress has not been very rapid. Lack of money and lack of
competent schoolmasters sadly hamper all operations. But kuttabs
are now established, attached as a sort of junior class to the schools
at Khartoum, Omdurman, Halfa, and Suakin. A model kuttab has
been established at Berber, which is reported to be doing well, and
another is being built at Dongola. The like is also being attempted at
Wad Medani, a populous town on the Blue Nile, capital of the
province of Sennar, with about 40,000 inhabitants. Reference has
been made to the lack of trained schoolmasters. Egypt itself feels
this difficulty, and Egypt is at present the only source of supply on
which the Soudan can draw. It was to meet this demand—at least,
so far as the kuttabs are concerned—that a small training college for
native sheikhs was opened in the beginning of 1901 in connection
with the school at Omdurman. At first this interesting experiment was
not very successful. The students, who all belonged to the best Arab
families, were all proud, ignorant, and lazy; and as Arabs they were
inclined to despise the Egyptian schoolmasters, whose task it was to
teach them. But now there is a great improvement. They have
increased in number to about thirty, and only lack of room prevents a
further increase. I watched them doing their own lessons, and also
receiving practical instruction in teaching by taking a class of the
school under the guidance of a master. It was impossible to doubt
the value of the experiments. They were nearly all fine-looking,
intelligent young men, some of them really handsome, with the keen,
clear-cut features that mark the pure-bred Arab. Three of them had
come from distant Kassala, where at present there are no means of
education whatever. The course lasts three years. At the end of it
they are to be examined as to their fitness, and they will then be
drafted off either to teach in their kuttabs or else to some posts in
connection with the native Courts. Whether as schoolmasters or
Cadis, they will be most useful elements in the development of the
Soudan.
In the negro portion of the Soudan, inhabited by the pagan tribes,
the people are so backward in civilization that the question of
education does not at present arise, or, if it does arise, assumes a
totally different aspect. Here is the field for the missionary. Two
missions are already established—one, the American Medical
Mission, on the Sobat; and the other, the Austrian Roman Catholic
Mission at Taufikieh, on the White Nile. Both are doing good work,
and both are to be encouraged and assisted by the Government. In
other parts of the Soudan it must be remembered that we are
dealing with a fanatically Mohammedan population, and any
suspicion that the Government was trying to proselytize would
immediately wreck all schemes of education, and probably be the
signal for grave disorders.
It will be a long time before the schools turn out sufficient pupils to
fill the Government Civil Service, and there does not seem to be any
danger of producing mere ‘babus,’ hanging about and relying on a
certain knowledge of English to procure them a job. The teaching of
English is entirely confined to those boys who are going to make use
of it in the Government Service or in commercial pursuits, where its
knowledge is required. For the ordinary mass of the population
nothing is to be gained by an imperfect knowledge of English. The
authorities are unquestionably right in discouraging such teaching;
the supposed political advantages of it are small, if not entirely
imaginary. The Soudan can never be a real white man’s country; its
rulers must always be speakers of Arabic, and its people will do far
better to employ their time in more useful ways than struggling with a
foreign language.
The Gordon College is the centre of education, but even now its
activities are not confined to mere teaching. It is proposed to form a
collection of books dealing with the Soudan, its peoples, its natural
history, and its various productions, accompanied by specimens to
illustrate them, and some progress has been made. Mr. Wellcome’s
valuable bacteriological research laboratory is in full working order,
and a skilled expert from Scotland has been in charge of it for some
months. He is doing a work of great importance, not only to the
Soudan, but also to the scientific world in general. The Soudan is a
land where strange diseases both of men and animals abound.
There is a wide field for research. The scientific and systematic
examination of these obscure subjects is already bearing fruit, and
cannot fail to ameliorate the conditions of life in these tropical
regions for the European as well as for the native.
Lord Cromer has promised that more shall be done for education
in the future. There is no need for hurry; indeed, it is essential that
the educational system shall be built up slowly with caution and
patience. But in time each province will have its own primary and
technical schools, whose pupils will be selected from the elementary
kuttabs. Afterwards, when all this has been carefully organized, the
provincial schools will in their turn pass on their more promising
students to Khartoum to receive the higher education which will then
be demanded. Then the Gordon College will at last become a real
college. In it the germ of a most hopeful future is contained. If the
work proceeds on the same sound lines as hitherto—which there is
no reason to doubt—great days are coming. The Arab is capable of
a very high degree of civilization, and has a great intelligence, which
has as yet had no chance of development. And in those days, I
doubt not, those who founded the Gordon College, and first kindled
the fire of learning, will be praised by its students as sincerely and as
deservedly as the benefactors of any of our own Western
foundations.
 CHAPTER XX

TRADE AND COMMERCE

Sir Rudolf von Slatin, Inspector-General of the Soudan, who

possesses an unrivalled experience of the country, reports that ‘the
whole situation in the country is very satisfactory. Everywhere I went,
from north to south and from east to west, I found that villages and
cultivation had increased. The population is larger and wealthier;
flocks and herds are more numerous; security prevails, and general
satisfaction is expressed with the present rule.’ Once more, or,
rather, nearly for the first time, life and property are safe. Relieved
from the scourge of war and tyranny, people are everywhere
resuming their old occupations. They have even recovered from the
shock of finding themselves under just and settled government, and
are no longer content merely to exist. New wants are being felt, and
with the advance of material prosperity trade and commerce are
springing up.
There are, however, considerable obstacles to the development of
trade. First of all there is a lack of labour. Partly this is due to lack of
population, but partly also to other causes. Slavery has left its mark,
and many of the Arabs are too proud and too lazy to take part in
manual labour; in laziness, though not in pride, many of the negro
tribes are fully their equals. Secondly, there is the difficulty of
communications in so vast a country, and the lack of transport.
Thirdly, the Soudan is very poor, and capital is wanting. Still, every
year shows an improvement in these respects.
The population is steadily growing, partly by natural increase, and
partly by immigration from neighbouring countries of people who had
fled during the rebellion. Attempts have also been made to assist the
increase by colonization. A number of old soldiers from the
Soudanese battalions, who are enlisted for life, were permitted to
retire, and with their wives and children were established in villages
on the Nile and at Kassala. The villages were organized on a more
or less military basis, with a well-known non-commissioned officer as
chief. Each colonist was allotted two or three acres of good rain or
pasture land, or an acre of Nile foreshore. He was given grain for
sowing, besides a quantity of dhurra sufficient to support him until his
crops grew. Markets were also started. Unfortunately, the
experiments were generally unsuccessful. The colonies at Dongola
and Berber failed altogether. It was found that the black when
released from the strict discipline of the regiment was more anxious
to enjoy doing nothing, after the manner of his ancestors, than to
work, and if he saw a chance of living by begging or stealing he was
apt to leave his cultivation alone, and go off to some town.
At Hellet Abbas, on the White Nile, it was found that if the rains
were good the colonists would prepare the ground and sow the crop,
but if it came to artificial irrigation and shadoof work they soon tired
of this heavier labour and left the crops to wither. Happily, a much
better account comes from Kassala. The Mudir of that province
reported:

‘The colony of blacks established at Kassala continues to thrive, and in every

way justifies its existence. They have a well-laid-out village, and are eager to
cultivate along the Gash, and have also a fair amount of rain crops. Labourers can
nearly always be obtained from amongst them for public works, and there are
some very fair masons who are permanently employed. I wish we had the means
of teaching some of them carpentry and blacksmith’s work as well. They have
acquired a good deal of small stock.
‘Those of Gedaref are not so thrifty, and are lazy; they do not cultivate so much
or so well, but I hope for improvement.’

Transport and communications are indeed vastly better than they

were in Egyptian days. The railway from Halfa to Khartoum makes
an all-important difference. It has already given an immense stimulus
to the export trade; without it there would have been quite another
tale to tell of the last five years. But except in the province of Berber
it does not tap any local resources. Great part of it lies in an
uninhabited desert. Every train leaving Halfa has to carry with it
1,520 cubic feet of water. And there are 200 miles of river between
Halfa and the outer world at Assouan, and then 700 miles more to
the sea. Carriage of goods over such a mileage, with its necessary
transhipments, is a long and costly business, nearly prohibitive for
bulky articles. Coal, for example, is seldom less than £4 a ton at
Khartoum, and often nearer £6. No one who had to build a railway in
the Soudan for commercial purposes only would think of crossing the
desert to Halfa; his first thought would be to connect Khartoum with
the sea-board at Suakin.
There is also the railway from Halfa to Kerma, thirty miles from
Dongola. But this, too, was laid down in haste for military purposes.
It is laid so badly, with such sharp curves and such steep gradients,
owing to the nature of the country, that no heavy trains can run on it,
and with the present rolling-stock an engine has sometimes to make
three or four starts before it can master an ascent. It is worked at a
loss of about £20,000 a year, and it has become a serious problem
whether the money so spent could not be employed much more
advantageously elsewhere, so many are the claims on the Soudan
Exchequer. It would be far better to take up the whole line, and relay
it from Dongola to connect with the main-line at Abu Hamed. For not
only is this a much easier country, but the southern part of the
province, which is the richer, and inhabited by a more industrious
and hard-working population, would be opened up. But at present no
money is forthcoming either for this or for the complete repair of the
existing line. So poor Dongola is in the tantalizing position of having
a railway, and yet not being able to take full benefit of it. It is actually
suffering from a surplus of foodstuffs, and is a year behindhand in its
exports.
The province is famous for its dates; not only is it a great exporter
of the ordinary fruit, but it also produces a golden date, which is said
to be the best in the world, better, even, than the Algerine date, so
well known in Europe. It has also abundance of irrigable land as
good as Upper Egypt, which it very much resembles in general
climatic conditions. As its numerous and interesting antiquities show,
it once supported a very large population; but now a great deal of
land is lying waste, and the population, though increasing very fast,
is still not more than about 100,000. With better communications its
prospects are very good. When Egypt becomes overcrowded, as it
must in time if the present rate of increase is maintained, Dongola
will offer a fair field to Egyptian immigration. The conditions of life are
so similar to those in Egypt that it cannot fail to be the most attractive
part of the Soudan. Even as things are, owing to the partial
advantage afforded by the railway and facilities of transport by boat-
carriage on the Nile, the trade of the province is increasing. Cotton
goods and luxuries like tea, sugar, coffee, and perfumeries, are the
principal imports, and cereals are exported as well as dates. The
people are wealthier, and anxious to buy such goods as cutlery,
crockery, soap, agricultural implements, and hardware, but well-to-do
traders have not as yet exploited the field, as they would do if the
railway difficulty were solved.
Once Khartoum is connected with the sea by railway, the principal
obstacle in the way of trade will have been removed, and,
fortunately, this is no longer a mere vision of hopeful men. Practically
the railway has already been begun. It will strike across the desert to
the Atbara, crossing the mountains near Sinkat, and then run along it
to join the main-line near where it crosses that river. If the railway
does not come to Berber itself, Berber will probably travel up the Nile
to meet it. Arab towns are not very difficult to shift. The whole route
has been carefully surveyed, and a good deal has been spent in
improving the port of Suakin. Materials are being rapidly collected.
This time careful preparations are being made; there will be none of
those kaleidoscopic changes of policy which were so fatal in 1885. It
may confidently be expected that in two or three years’ time there
will be something to show very much more substantial than a tennis-
court at Dover built of much-travelled material, the only result of our
former exertions. For the construction of the line the Government will
be its own contractor. The Soudan Railway Department has a very
capable staff, and they will be able to do the work as efficiently as
any outside contractor, and much more cheaply. It is hoped that as
far as possible native labour may be made use of. It is a hopeful
indication of a change of spirit among the Arabs that the local
sheikhs have agreed to bring their tribesmen to work; the experiment
is worth trying even if it fails. No such thing has ever happened in the
Soudan before.
 Meantime Suakin is looking eagerly forward. Its inhabitants have
naturally suffered by the complete diversion of trade to the Nile
Valley route. Very few of them can even afford to repair their houses,
and the town shows signs of decay. Most of the people are
unemployed, and labour is very cheap. There was formerly a good
deal of trade with India and the Red Sea ports, but most of this has
fallen away, and nearly all the Indian merchants who formerly had
their headquarters there have left. But now that the desert which
shuts off the Soudan from the sea is really to be bridged over, there
will be a great change. The one seaport of these immense territories
cannot fail to be a busy and prosperous place.
Once the new line is completed, the distance from Khartoum to
the sea will be reduced by about two-thirds, to some 450 miles, with
a proportionate reduction in expense of carriage, and it will then be
possible to think of building other feeder lines in various parts of the
Soudan. A branch line to Kassala and on to Gedaref and Gallabat
along the Abyssinian frontier will tap a very rich district and open up
the Abyssinian trade. Possibly in the distant future such a line may
be continued southwards so as to connect with Uganda. In the
recent agreement with Abyssinia, powers have been taken to build in
Abyssinian territory for this purpose. But this is still a long way
outside practical politics. Of far more importance for the immediate
development of the country would be a light railway from Omdurman
or Duem to El Obeid, or across the rich Ghezireh from Duem to Wad
Medani on the Blue Nile, or, again, from near Wad Medani to
Gedaref. Easy communication with the sea will render it possible to
bring the necessary plant into the country at a reasonable cost, and
the experience gained as to material and labour in building the
Suakin line will also be invaluable.
Meanwhile the provincial Governors are doing all they can to
improve the caravan routes and roads. In great part of the Soudan
this is simply a question of increasing the number of wells; metalled
roads are scarcely necessary as yet, outside a few towns. Wheel
traffic is almost non-existent; the camel and the ass are the great
public carriers. It is rather strange that the camel has not been more
used for pulling wheel transport than he has. One camel can pull
three or four times as much as he can carry. All the heavy machinery
of the Nile Valley Gold Mining Company, working in Nubia, has been
transported in this way from the river, a distance of sixty miles.
Rarely a camel may be seen hauling a plough in Egypt. But there are
limits to the use of camels. They cannot breed successfully south of
parallel 13°, and in all the country south of this the serut fly makes it
almost impossible for either them or horses to live at certain seasons
of the year.
Above all, access to the sea will greatly stimulate the use made of
water carriage within the country. In the Nile and its tributaries the
Soudan possesses a system of natural trade-routes unequalled in
Africa for internal commerce. The river traffic, though already
growing, is merely in its infancy. The Government has a considerable
fleet of steam and sailing vessels between Wadi Halfa and Assouan,
and also on the Blue and White Niles. They are also encouraging an
English company which has placed some steamers and steam-
barges on both rivers. On the Blue Nile there is regular steamer
communication with Rosaires, 426 miles from Khartoum, during high
Nile, about six months in the year, and even in low Nile most of the
river is navigable by native boats. On the White Nile, now that the
sudd has been cleared, steamers and native boats can ply the whole
year round up to Gondokoro. In time the Sobat may prove a very
good route for trade with Abyssinia. And the Bahr el Ghazal, with its
network of waters, is in this respect the most fortunate of all the
provinces. Many of its waterways are still blocked by sudd, but every
year the navigation is improving. A serviceable channel is now
available on the Jur River as far as Wau, and large steamers will
eventually be able to get up even much further than this. The other
rivers will in time be opened up. In a country where at present
everything has to be carried on men’s heads, this will be an
extraordinary benefit from every point of view, and if the province
answers at all to its old reputation as one of the most fertile spots of
Africa, it will do very well, in spite of mosquitoes, serut flies, malaria,
guinea worm, and all its other plagues.
As for the lack of capital both for private enterprise and public
works, that, like the lack of population, can only be cured by time.
Overhasty development could only do harm, even if it were possible.
As trade improves and agriculture develops, the people will become
more wealthy, and the two will react upon each other. That large
sums will be invested by private capitalists or firms is not to be
expected for years to come. But even now an Englishman is erecting
flour-mills at Wad Medani, and if his venture succeeds it may be
followed by others. The Government is doing all in its power to
encourage agriculture by small loans for the purchase of seeds,
water-wheels, and cattle to work them. Perhaps some form of State-
supported Agricultural Bank will be established.
The Soudan is an agricultural country; in that direction alone can
real progress be made, and the progress depends mainly upon
irrigation. Between the Atbara and the Blue Nile, and between the
Blue Nile and the White Nile, there is, as has been pointed out, a
great field for irrigation works on a large scale, but the amount of
crops now grown by direct irrigation is very small. Along the Blue
Nile water-wheels are numerous for the first ten miles above
Khartoum. There used to be 3,000 between Khartoum and Berber,
but in 1898 there were no more than seventy; and though the
number has increased, it has yet nothing like reached the old level.
The same is true of the rest of Berber Province and of Dongola.
There is also a certain amount of irrigation on islands in the White
Nile above Khartoum. When the river is falling, large mud flats
appear in the centre of the stream. To these the people transport
their cattle and belongings; they sow their seed in the mud, build
themselves huts, and set up shadoofs to water the growing crops of
wheat, barley, dhurra, and onions. They begin operations towards
the end of January, and in good soil the crops are harvested by May.
What perennial irrigation can do is shown by the gardens at
Khartoum, where lemons, figs, oranges, pomegranates, bananas,
vines, and all kinds of vegetables, grow in profusion all the year
round. But at present nearly all the crops are rain crops. The height
to which water has to be raised out of the Blue Nile is too great for
extended irrigation by mere lift. For the first 150 miles from Khartoum
the banks are 26 to 30 feet over the summer level, and further south
33 to 39 feet, the difference between summer and flood level being
about 23 feet. The soil of the Ghezireh is a rich alluvial deposit
sometimes 150 feet deep. The inhabitants build small dykes across
the general slope of the country so as to prevent the rain running off
too quickly, and sow their seed as soon as the rain has fallen. The
result as described by Sir R. Wingate a year or two ago is as follows:

‘I recently rode from Wad Medani on the Blue Nile to opposite Duem on the
White Nile, eighty miles across a perfectly flat plain sown almost throughout its
entire length with dhurra, which was standing 6 to 8 feet high. As there is only one
crop sown during the short rainy season, and as this is planted and harvested
within a period of sixty to eighty days, it follows that, if a system of irrigation were
possible in the Ghezireh it would become a huge granary capable of supplying, not
only the whole Soudan, but other countries as well.’

But, of course, any schemes for utilizing the waters of the Nile
have always to be considered in reference to the prior claims of
Egypt. It is only to Egypt that the Soudan can look for the money
necessary to carry out great works, and, naturally, Egypt would not
allow irrigation to be developed in the Soudan unless her own needs
were amply safeguarded. Whenever Egypt undertakes the great
works contemplated on the Upper Nile, the Soudan will share in the
benefit. That will not be for a long time to come, and meanwhile the
Soudan has opportunity to develop her resources and her population
so as to be able to seize the chance when it comes. There seems to
be no reason, however, why works on a small scale should not be
undertaken, subject always to the question of expense, to utilize in
the Soudan, by means of basin irrigation on the Blue Nile or the
Atbara, some of the flood-water during July, August and September,
which is only an embarrassment to Egypt now that perennial
irrigation is adopted so universally in that country. It is only in the
preceding summer months, when the Nile is low, that Egypt is forced
to watch the proceedings of her neighbour with such a jealous eye. It
would be rash to prophesy exactly when irrigation works will be
undertaken, or what form they will take; but it is certain that they will
come, and when they do, their effect upon the Soudan will be
immense. The subject is of peculiar interest to England; the lands in
question are capable of producing other crops than cereals, and, as
will presently be shown, for none are they more suitable than for
cotton.
Quite apart from any such speculations upon the future, the
external trade of the Soudan is capable of great expansion under
present conditions. An examination of the returns of imports and
exports during the last years before the rebellion is a very useful
guide to the capacities of the country. The figures are taken from
Colonel Stewart’s report.
There are no returns of imports except for the port of Suakin, but
these embrace practically the whole. Of course, a certain amount
came in by the Nile Valley route, just as now a certain amount comes
in by Suakin instead of by the railway. The position has been
practically reversed, and for purposes of comparison it is fair to take
the imports formerly entering the port of Suakin and those now
carried by the railway. The most important item was cotton goods,
which amounted to about 25,000 to 30,000 kantars annually. Linens
were about 200 to 300 kantars, and woollens 100 to 300 kantars.
There was also a certain amount of silks and silk thread and sewing
cotton. The Indian trade brought in a good deal of grain and tobacco.
In 1881 the import of Indian rice amounted to 20,000 kantars.
Petroleum (6,000 kantars), oil, zinc, copper, and iron, appear in the
list, as well as flour and provisions of various kinds in large
quantities, and candles, boots, and clothes. The peculiar tastes of
the Soudanese in luxuries are reflected in the large imports of
sandal-wood, and scents and perfumery, especially fish-scent (700
tons, or 15,400 kantars, a year). Both men and women are
particularly fond of strong, greasy scents. In all native festivities and
entertainments these scents are a very prominent feature, and a
native marriage can be smelt a very long way off. Last, but not least,
comes a very peculiar item: in one year no less than 11,000 dozen
umbrellas were imported. There is certainly enough sunshine in the
Soudan, and in parts of it rain also, to justify a large number of
umbrellas, but it is difficult to believe that 132,000 umbrellas would
find a ready sale in the Soudan to-day. Perhaps the Khalifa
particularly disliked the umbrella-carrying class.