The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-04-04
THE ROAD TO KIIART0UM.
A TIMELY DESCRIPTION OF SCENES
IN THE SoUDAN.


good map of the SOud6n, its maze OF
road and river presents Il pulling con
fusion. Most of these roads, threading
their way through the half-cXplored
regions lying to the south and west, con
verge on Khartoum, to which also rolls
down the traffic of the great twin rivers
Bahr-cl-Abad or White Nile. and the
Bahr-cl-Azrak or Blue Nile. From that
center constant trade finds two main
routes to the outer world, namely: Down
the river to Bcrbcr. and thence by cara
van to Suakim, on the Red sea coast,
or following the river still further to
Abu Ahmed, thence crossing the Atmoor
desert to Korosko, and so down the Nile
to Cairo. | have before now travelled
this latter route, starting from kOroskO,
and so travcrsing much of the into rven-
inc districts to Khartoum. Virtually
there are two routes lying south from
Korosko. The first follows, now by
boat and now by camel, the rivers wind
ing course; the shorter route goes across
the thirsty desert at Atmoor But prac-
tically the former is little used, the many
rapids intcrrupting the rivers course,
and the length of time required for max
ing the journey limited the number OF
travellers to an occasional Darfur or Be
dawcen caravan. The most direct south
eTly route lies across the desert from
Korosko, at the knee formed by the Nile
between Assouan and Wadv IIalfa to
Abu Ahmed, at the corresponding bend.
$50 miles further south. KOroskO itself
is but looking collection of mud
huts, clustering together in two or three
patches, amid wide arena Of dust and
sand and borrowing what animation it
has from the constant starting and ar
irving of its caravans Yet it is not I'M
picturesque, and flankCd by the luxurious
palm groves of the river and the desert
rampant of the south, shows wonderful
contrast of colors.
The tall sand-swcpt hills of its desert
hem it in on all sides and extend to the
north in endless waves of rock and val
ley, like some ocean pctriiied in Il storm
wind Through this trails the route to
Khartoum, winding its dreary length
among succession Of bleak gorgcs
whose lodges and valleys gilt
ter with the wind-siltcd sand,
while above and around the glare
of the sun is reflected from the glistening
rocks. A weird realm Of drcarincss it is,
forming fit homo for solitude and mo-
notony. Here ana there IN the deeper
valleys some SlcKly doom pain or dWarlcd
mlmo'a struggles ior existence among the
surrounding Stcrlllty. but the grass
grows IN S'llllcicnt quantities 10 support Il
few gazelles ana mountain mares. Yet
most organic lie shuns TINS vale OF desc
latlon. The passage through IT'S ard
waste may be accompanied by ordinary
travellers in ten DAYS during which time
water mas TO be carried IN SKINS, since the
lew wells met with ON the road ylcld the
most unpalatabIe OF liquids. Even tins,
nevertheless, Is sometimes preferable to
inc carried water Whicn' WIN inc sun,
the shaking ana the keeping IN SKINS De-
come unft Tor any out me dlreSt hcccS-
sity. BESIDE the lew wells That are passed
one may frequently come upon small en-
campmcnts OF the Ababdeh Arabs, whose
habit OF always carrying arms and the ic-
roclouS-looNlng fashion OF dong the halr
up win long ebony ana ivory skcWers
give thcm a most alarming aspect. 10
their charge IS lntrustcd the dchlcS OF
this Nubian desert and the safe escort OF
the caravans passing them. The track Is
marked out by countless carcasscs OF
cameIs prevented by the dry heat from
/ decaylng, and now and again hy the rude
stone-heeaned! grave OF their drivers bur
led IN the wild tastness OF sand and rock.
The mirage IS almost continual the
horizon wearing the garb OF sea and
lake; mountains far beyond the limit Of
vision reversing themselves in the air as
II standing on their submits, or taking
fantastic shapes and forms. 1t Is related
how an Egyptian regiment, passing this
route not many years ago, was almost
annihllated from this cause in its torrid
circle. Deceived by the mirage, on all
sides presenting to the eye lakes of tran
sparent water, the men, maddened by
thirst, cou d no longer be restrained,
and, notwithstanding the protcstatons
of their guide, broke from their ranks
in eager quest of draught, to discover
too late the fatal illusion, for most of
them persisted with thirst. Glad is the
weary and heat ODDrCSSpd traveller when