The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-05-07
THE ROAD TO KHARIOUM.
A TIMELY DESCRIPTION OF SCENES
IN THE soUDAN.
The weird Realm OF Wilderness
Through which General Gordon
Made His Famous March,

Made His Famous March,
A correspondent of the London Tele-
graph says: To any person studying a
good map of the Soudan, its maze of
road and river presents a puZzling con
fusion. Most of these roads, threading
their way through the half-explored
regions lying to the south aud west, con-
verge on Khartoum, to which also rolls
down the traffic of the great twin rivers
Bahr-el-Abiad or White Nile, and the
Bahr-el-Azrak or Blue Nile. From that
center constant trade finds two main
routes to the outer world, namely: Down
the river TO Berber, 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 traversing much of the inte rven-
ing districts to Khartoum. Virtually
there are two routes living 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 interrupting 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
daween caravan. The most direct south
erly route lies across the desert from
Koroslo, at the knee formed by the Nile
between Assouan and Wady Halfa, to
Abu Ahmed, at.the corresponding bend
Il
is but poor-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 un-
picturesque, and flanked by the luxurious
palm groves of the river and the desert
rampant of the south, shows a wonderful
contrast of colors.
The tall sand-swept 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 petrified in a storm
wind. Through this trails the route to
Khartoum, winding its dreary length
among a succession of bleak gorges
whose lodges and valleys gilt
ter with the wind-silted sand,
while above and around the glare
of the sun is reflected from the glistening
rocks A weird realm of dreariness it is,
forming fit home for solitude and mo-
notony Here and there in the deeper
valleys some sickly doom palm or dwarfed
mimosa struggles for existence among the
surrounding sterility. but the desert grass
grows in sufficient quantities to support q
few gazelles and mountain hares. Yet
most organic life shuns this vale Of DESC
lation. The passage through its arid
waste may be accomplished by ordinary
travellers in ten days, during which time
water has to be carried in skins, since the
few wells met with on the road yield tho
most unpalatable of liquids. Even this
nevertheless, is sometimes preferable. tC
the carried water, which, with the Sun,
the shaking and the keeping in skins, be
come unfit for any but the direst neces
sity. Beside the few wells that are passed
one may frequently come upon small en-
campments of the Ababdeh Arabs, whose
habit of always carrying arms and the fe
rocious- looking fashion of doing the hal
up with long ebony and ivory skewer
give them a most alarming aspect. IL
their charge is intrusted the defiles o
this Nubian desert and the safe escort o
the caravans passing them. The track j
marked out by countless carcasses o
camels prevented by the dry heat from
decaying, and now and again by the rud
stone-heaped grave of their drivers bur
led in the wild fastness OF sand and rock
The mirage is almost continual, the
horizon wearing the garb of sea anC
lake; mountains far beyond the limit o
vision reversing themselves in the air a
if standing on their SUBMITS, or taking
fantastic shapes and forms. 1t is related
how an Egyptian regiment, passing thi
route not many years ago, was aimos
annihilated from this cause in its torriC
circle. Deceived by the mirage, on al
sides presenting to the eye lakes of tran
sparent water, the men, maddened b.
thirst, could no longer be restrained
and, Notwithstanding the protestation
of their guide, broke from their rank
in eager quest of draught, to discove
too late the fatal illusion, for most o
them perished with thirst. Glad is tn
weary and heat-oppressed traveller when
emerging from the sandy plains and rift
of the Korosko desert, he sights tn
palms of Abu Ahmed. With little sol
row does he hurry to exchange the mo
notonous gray and yellow tints of hi
late experiences, the heat, thirst, and IN
expressible torture of keeping awalk
when perched on the cameps hump, 70
the foliage and peace of Abu Ahmed.
From this village-for it is nothin
more than village, although importan
as the terminus of the Atmoor wilderness
route-we discard the ship of tn
desert for the native boat, or "nugga,
of the river. At the best this is but poe
sort of craft, mudbesmeared and genel
ally cranky, with a crew of perhaps fou
men; yet after suffering the uneasy jos
ging of camels it is comfort in compariso
and has the further advantage of a
upper deck, which lends some protectio
from the blazing heat.
Or fha e ha Ytv oh !,