The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-07

half mile AS its site is somewhat
lower than the point, reached by both rivers
when at a flood, a dixie fifteen to twenty feet
in height has been made along the banks of the
Blue Nile, another somewhat lower immediately
at the back of the town. to protect it against the
overflow of the White Nile. When at their
lowest point both streams are from GOO to 500
yards in width, and have several islands which
are cultivated. The White Nile is unfcrdable,
except In one or two places far up the
river, but the Blue can be forded in MANY
places above the town. When in flood the White
Nile increases its width to a very great extent,
but not so the Blue Nile, as its banks are much
sleeper. Around Khartoum several small
villages Both above and below the town are
small plantations of date palms and pantans.
also a number of vegetable gardens. According
to an old custom or privilege, none OF these gar
dens pay any taxes With the exception of the
river banks the country is bare and treeless
During the hot season, which lasts from the
beginning of April to the middle of November,
the heat is severe, averaging in the shade from
90o to 95o Fahrenheit The rains generally be-
gin about the middle of July and last to the mid
die of September. They are however. said to be
very regular, and sometimes there is little or
no rainfall. In the rainy season the barren
ground stretching between the two rivers is COW
cred with grass, affording very good pasture.
The rivers begin to rise on June /, and reach
their highest point about the beginning
of September. They remain stationary at
that point till about the 18th. and then begin to
fall. The cold weather begins about the mid
die of December and lasts till the middle of
February. From November till March high
north winds prevail, and during the remain
der of the year, south. In winter the ther-
mometer goes down as low as 46o Fahren-
heit; except in the regular rainy season, there
is no rain. The unbearable season is during
the months of June, July, October and No
vember, when typhoid fevers and dysentery are
prevalent. The winter is the healthy season.
The resident population is generally estimated
at from $4,000 TO $4,000 souls, of which-two-
hirHc c10 ic ole foot fiv1fYv
lation estimated from ], 500 to 1000 souls, and
consisting of Europeans. Syrians, Copts, Turks,
Albanians, and few Jews. The free resident
population are mostly Makhass or aborigines,
Dongoawees from Dongola, Shaghiyes from
district along the Nile north of Khartoum, and
Rubatat, district north of Berber. The slaves
belong mostly to the Nuba Dinka
Shulook, -Berta and other negro tribes,
Both the free population .s.ta-. u
slaves are all Gf the Maiki school
of divinity, and are also followers of either the
Rufal, Kadri, Hamdi or Shadi sect of dervishes.
They are very superstitious. Their political
creed is to side with whichever side is the strong
est The free inhabitants are mostly engaged
in trades or commerce, and the slaves in agri-
culture, or else hired out as daily laborers by
their masters. But few are employed as
domestic servants 1t is said that master
always makes a point of marrying his slave as
soon as possible partly to attach him to the
place and partly for the profits he will derive
from the children. 1t is also reported that
slaves horn in the country improve greatly in
appearance as compared with the parent stock.
Of the floating population the Copts are mostly
employed in government service or trade. The
Turks Albanians etc., are generally irregular
soldiers or loafers. The European element is
represented by about 100 individuals, mostly
Greeks. There are also some Italians, French,
Austrians and Germans.
Except the manufacture of mats, cotton
cloths, a rope made from palm leayes, and some
tilagree silver work. there is no manufacture
worth speaking of. The bazaar is of considerable
size, and tolerably we'll supplied with Manches-
ter goods. cheap cutlery, etc. The export and
import trade is considerable, and besides nu-
merous caravans is said to employ over 800
boats of various sizes.
In shape the town is very IRREGULAR. It's ap-
pearance is also poor end miserable. Except
the Government House and one or two other
buildings there is hardly house worthy of
the name The houses are mostly built of sun
dried brick, generally without an upper story
and nearly all surrounded by court yards with
mud walks. TO prevent these houses crumblng
away during the rains they are every
year plastered over with dung before
the rainy season commences This
of a good deal of illness AS the town is SO low,
there is no drainage, and the consequence is that
during the rains the whole place is deep in
water and it is almost impossible to move about.
AS there is no stone throughout the whole dis
trict, the streets full of dust during the sum-
mer, and mud during the rains The chief build
ings are: Government House and offires. large
brick building on the banks of the Blue Nile;
arsenal. with smithy, carpenters shop,
smelling furnaces, stoves; ETC.; attached to
this arsenal are some fourteen steamers for
the navigation of the rivers, and also boats Of
various kinds large. commodious hospital
built by Colonel Gordon; mosque or iami,
built by Khurschid Pacha sibil, or small
mosque with well and some rooms for the
convenience of travellers and poor peoples
large barracks of mud, without an upper story,
and large barrack square; powder-ma gazine and
work shop for the reflling of cartridges; large
Roman Catholic missionary building established
in 1848; stone building with garden, church, etc.,
ard small Coptic church.