The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-05-31
IN THE SOUpAN.

A Ride Through "a WILDERNESS. TO the INNER
Nine Region With an Egyptian Column.
A correspondents Of the London News
writes from khartoum
The Arabs of the desert are Of a dark
bronze shade, some almost approaching 10
black but there is nothing OF the negro
type Ia their sharply,cut features, and
many Of our guides and camel men were
strikinsly handsome. With scant drapery
about their loins they march or ride, proud
and erect, each man being armed with
lance and shield, or a long two edged
sword. The hair is worn in u most pecu.
liar fashion, with crown TUT On the lop OF
the head, and then left to fall on either
side 10 the shoulders at the back. The
headdress and features OF these Bishareen
Arabs reminded me greatly of the profile
paintings on the walls OF the ancient tombs
OF Sahara, Luxor, and Thebes. Some re.
cent travellers have fancie6 they have found
an affinity in their language to that Of the
ancient Egyptians, and it has been suggest
ed that this now half-savage race may,
thousands OF years ago, bave sent their
pioneers by the bed OF the Nile to people
and settle in Upper and Lower Egypt.
The first water station brings one to the
gate OF the mountains, which stand around
the desert. And such mountninsl Bold,
Jagged and split with deep gorges ana
ravines filled with dark mysterious shad-
ows. For DAYS We toiled througha success
sion OF basins, and over stony bottoms that
would seem to offer n serious impeachment
10 the apparently soft, velvety & owed feet
OF our camels; but pointed edges OF roughly
covered powders were alike passed over
without inconvenience or lameness. Fro n
clefts and hollows dried up desert grass
struggled for lie. We had the thorny
acacia (mimosa), through which, if not care
ful, we were dragged by our camels to the
detrlment of flesh and clothing Some
times isolated rocks would rise in the glare
ike tortresses of medieval structure.
Sometimes hugh powders, tossed hither
and thlther, were scattered like giant idol
heads in all directions. Again conical
blocks seen in the vapor of the
distance would give notion that a
village lay in front. Seemingly terri
bic rs was this wilderness of rock, noun
tain and stone, there was nothing to be up.
pretended from the Mahul or his ft flowers.
imaginative correspondents have actually
described encounters that have taken place
between the rebels and the Egyptian troops
in the desert between Souak,n and Berber.
Such have never occurred. The only PEG.
pie to be met with en- route were travellers,
or caravan, carving merchandise under
an escort OF Bishareen Arabs, having
khartoum for their destination, or return
ing from that grand capital of the BLACK
Country" These Arabs are to all appear.
ances favorabiy disposed toward the gov
eminent OF the Khedive, and it stands to
reason that they should be, for they are
gaining largely by the hire of their camels,
there being a continued movement between
Souakin and Berber, and thence by the
Nile further south to the Soudan.
Here and there, on the wooded slopes
near water stations, feathered and four
footed game were to be met. The first con-
sisted of turkey bustsrds," sand pigeons.
and grouse, some Of which our party shot
for the benefit OF the mess. The second
were gazelles. There must have been n.y.
enas or jackals about, though we saw none,
but the separated remains OF camels that
lined the desert tract showed where they
had been feeding. For instance, head
might be found many PAGES from the body,
and the legs many yards from either. |
may mention here that the detachme OF
troops that followed us some days afterward
with our "Nordenfeldts,' under command
Of Captain II. Walker, had y kid carried of
from them just before daybreak. either by
a leopard or lion, at he second water sta
ton out of Souakin. | am inclined to be
lieve that 1t was the former, as lions are ex-
tremely rare in the Berbersen desert,
though it is said they are to be found be.
tween Khartoum and Berber. Once out OF
the mountains, and at great intervals be.
tween the wells, not a living thing was to
be met with. Plains of sand and stone lay
blisterng under the sun. Silence and a
desolation quite oppressive reigned su.
preme.
AT length we reached the welcome shell
ter OF the oasis of Auab, where two deer
wells sunk in solid rock gave an abundant
-upply OF good water, and luxuriant acacia
trees gave shade from screening sun
somewhat hotter than burning July day
at home. Encamped amidst the foliage
vas n considerable portion of the tribe ol
Is shareens, under IA "sheikh They had
III inquiry, little knowledge of the Mahdi
or his movements, and less interest in them
or his career. A trader, however. on his
way to Egypt, informed us that the Mahdl
mad retrtated on report reaching him that
the English were cooling against him; that
he was known in the country as Bengola
man, Mahomet Achmet by name; that his
former calling was that of n carpenter, and
that he had ceased to assert any claim. Ia
be prophet or TO have any religious mis-.
sion, but that he does assume the title o
sultan of the Soudan. The truth is that Z
is. backed up by the slavers and slave-hold.
ere, who are with him to a man. But fol
this he would have retired into insignifi
canoe long ago.
No an really practices economy nm