wells have been put in order at Gemsah and new fields opened up at Zeitieh and Hurghada, with good prospects of eventual success. The work is proceeding on a large scale; there is a European staff of 61 on the properties and native employés number nearly 800. There is every indication that efforts will be made by the company to exploit thoroughly the oilfields in the Red Sea over which they hold concessions. A refinery at Suez started working on September 10, and by the end of 1913 it was in full working order, distilling 500 tons of crude oil daily. The company imported up to the end of 1913 Tons. 15,000 32,000 From this was obtained benzine, kerosene and liquid fuel. Crude benzine is re-distilled and refined at the refinery for the Egyptian market. Kerosene is of the first quality and is mostly shipped to the Far East. The liquid fuel obtained is rather thick. Another company has carried on drilling operations at Ras Dhib and there is fair prospect of ultimate success. A third company has continued to drill on Jubal Island and up to the present success has not attended their efforts, in spite of the fact that geologists consider Jubal to be one of the likely places where oil should be found. A fourth company is drilling on Ranim Island. They have reached a depth of more than 1,300 feet; indications are fair. Large quantities of phosphate have been shipped during the year to Japan and Australia. New mines are being opened up and the output is increasing steadily. Prospecting for phosphate has been carried out at Jebel Duwi with good results. Several companies are prospecting for manganese on the Sinai peninsula. A company was registered in London with a capital of 250,000l., in order to exploit iron and manganese deposits at Um Bogma in the Sinai peninsula. As the deposits are at some distance from the sea coast, surveys for the best means of transporting the company's products were completed, a railway of 2 feet 6 inches gauge, 16 kiloms. in length, has been finished and a ropeway to connect the railway terminus with the mines is now in process of erection; as also shipping appliances and houses for the accommodation of staff and workmen. *The importation of Australian and Indian flour has risen this year as follows:- Table 1 (A).-IMPORTS at Suez during the Years 1911-13, including (B).—TOTAL of Principal Articles of Import at Suez during the Years This The 1 ton of sugar was imported from the United Kingdom. enormous fall in the imports arises from the fact that during previous years sugar used to be sent on from Java to be refined near Cairo and returned to original country. † Kilos. |