Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-30


and umln.byilt novels. The scenery with
every mile now grows wilder. aud tue
bordering hills draw In on both sides
Gil they almost meet IN the rcck-bound
gorge of Hagar-SiIsileh. Here Arah trad.-
ton ~ again ioquacious with legend tell
ing that The name OF this pass" The
Mountain Of the Chsin "--is derived from
40 ancient King--a kind OF royal dog IN the
mapger--who sought TO stay the traffic OF
the river by stretching a chain from one
bank to the other, and the natives, ny " to
prove what they doubtless believe, point
out TO the traveller the very rock TO winch
he attached his cable. This narrow gorge
takes It's name, far more probably, from
having boon the old catarac. OF Egypt,
where "the waters OF Ammon" and
Sc fountains Of Memphis" were 'chained ="
back in their fertslizing course. IN
deed. although the date when the snbsi-
dence OF the rocks cleared the fretingr river
up TO Asa,aan Is unknown. the TACT OF lis
having 70 occurred Is well authenticated.
Emerging from the pass the halls recede,
giving placc 10 wide areas OF cultivated
land. while doom-palm, acacias, and date
palu1s dot the landscape. The many SHIT
doofs also. with the str0ng-lim bed icilabeen
nj constant toll, bear evidence 70 the busy
husbmdry Of the neIghborhood. Perpe,-
ual is the "song OF the water" heard rs
they work at the leaihern bucket slung
from the weighted pole with which the
Nile waters are raised TO the sun-parehed
fields. The ceaseless murmur OF the sha-
doof brings 10 the Eastern ear thoughts
OF home and harvest, OF water surn.
ing the thirsty desert into a land 81
plenty, and il the voice OF all things cool
and shady. The strange stTident echo 1t
everlas,ingly keeps up is By no means I'M
pleasant 10 the not too sensitive ear. while
the chant that accompanies IL is siugulaTly
soft and musical. and atones, in great mea-
sure. for the harshness einanatIng from the
ungreased woodwork. IL has simple re-
curing melodious phase Of thanks 10
." Allah for the blessed water," and co mes
fOating down the river on the evening
breeze 10 mingle with the far-Otf chorus OF
some dusky rowers, who strain at their
oars 10 gain the town where they intend 10
moor.
Another short Journey and the boat
passes UP some most picturesque reaches
OF the river. which, widening suddenly,
shows the Nubian Isle OF E!erhantinc.
separating the catlraCt-tr0ubled waters Of
the Nile into two calm channels, on the
bank OF the easteTnmost Of which j. seen
Assouan, the successor OF Syene and limit
OF Egypt proper. Here all is hustle and
activity with the busy trade being carried
on in gums. ivory. dates. native weapons.
and produce from the SOndan. The towns
dark streets and dingy bazaar are tbronged
with a strangely-miXed crowd OF Afri-
cans. and the whole place wears
novel aspect after the civilized amenity
OF the Egyptian Nile. At is banks
are always gathered number Of
boats. and the dhow-rigged crafts Of the
native traders, for here Is the limit OF
Egypt's high road. The cataracts form a
tall gate. the fee to pass which is too eX-
pensive for the average "ryiS," and only
at the time Of the rivers food can vessels
Of large burden be pulled up the falls by
The shelaheen or natives of the district On
the southern side OF the cataracts stands
the little sand-shrouded village of Mlhat-
tab, the emporium Of the Nubian trade.
Here all the merchandise which finds It's
way down the river in the mud-besmeared
native boats is unloaded and transported
overland TO Assouan, where again it is
shipped and carried to its destination in
he north.
From Mahattah the river scenery is wild
md picturesque, but the vcrdure OF Egypt
Is missing, and there r3ignS a barren mo-
lotony in its stead. Tail. precipitous cliffs
border the Nile on both banks and be-
yrudge TO the native the narrow strip Of
oil which yields TO him his scanty harvest.
rhe population is sparcc. and the villages
re few in number. Until korosko-100
niles south OF Assouan-is reached, the
and seems to be almost deserted. especially
n contrast TO the populous and fertile
,anks Of Upper Egypt. Near Korosko,
however, villages begin TO dot the
again, while the eastern
,ank is clad in lveritable forest
4 palms whose deep shades are only
,roken by the green Of doura fields. |
II kOr0sko-an MISUNDERSTANDING place |
n Itself-commences the route across the |
Ilmoor desert to Aboo IIamed. thus cut |
ing off the great westerly bend which the /
lille makes between these two places. The !
quincy may be made in ten days instead OF |
he three to five weeks which following the /
curse of the Nile will entail, but the lack 1
{ wateralong the route and the cruel hard |
hips OF the desert make its adoption by an /
Imy, however small. quite impracticabIe.
Although from kOrosKo to Wady Halfl.
I the Second Cataract, the distance TO be
ccomplished is only another hundred
niles, the journey for sailing craft Is often
long one, the devious windings OF the
bannel and adverse winds causing much
clay. The river virtually flows through
esert, and desolate IN the extreme Is the
;pect everywhere, except when relieved
Y some Of the wonderful temple-ruins
hich have made the Nubian Nile famous
, all time. As we emerge from this
di0us portion lying between the Ty-
ian and AupoOr deserts. Wady iIalfa
rows among its gIrdIe ends the Nubian
oriion Of our journey. II is the port OF
e Second Cataract, and It's banks are ever
tered with diverse assortment OF strange
,ods brought from the interior OF Africa.
IT, unlike Assouan. It's boats cannot pass
e natural barrier OF rock ard foam.
( waters which till the river for
n miles or more. These cataracts are
all times impossible, except, perhaps. by
c very smallest boats, and henceforward
progress will have TO be made BY
e camel. or when the state OF the
yer will allow, by "nugga," or DongOla-
re craft. There exists trief line of
lis, circumventing the cataiacts, which
i'll be Of great service to the British
erations, but at ITS termination resort
ust be had to the metaphorical snip Of the
sert IL Colonel Kitchener and his pio-
eIing coadiutors have been able to pro.
re from the NCbian highways and hedges
sufficient quantity OF these patient beasts,
: may expect to see the force under GEN
Al Stephenson landing from their Berber
nbOats at the gates OF Khartoum before
Mahdi has grasped the fact that the Eng
h Cabinet has done playing with confer. ;
ces and parliamentary discussions.
VALUABLE TRJBTTE.