The Concordia eagle. [volume] (Vidalia, La.) 1873-1890, 1885-04-25
kHARTOUM.

On barren, stOneleSS ana WIDE plain
on the western bank of the Blue Nile,
and about a mile above its junction
with the White Nile, is situated the
now famous city of Khartoum. Its
river frontage is about one and half
miles; its depth inward fromthe river
about mile. AS its site is somewhat
lower that the point reached by both
rivers when in flood, a dyke fifteen to
twenty feet in height has been made
along the banks of the Blue Nile, and
another somewhat lower, Immediately
at the back of the town, to protect il
against overflow of the White Nile.
When at their lowest point both
streams are from six hundred to eight
hundred yards in width, and have sew
sral islands, which are cultivated. The
White Nile is unfordable, 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 very
great extent, but not so the Blue Nile,
rs its banks are much sleeper. Around
Khartoum are several small villages.
Both above and below the town are
small plantations of date palms and
plantains, also a number of vegetable
gardens. According to the old custom,
or privilege, none of these gardens pay
any taxes. With the exception of the
river banks the country il bare and
treeless.
During the hot season, which lasts
from the beginning of April to the
middle of November, the heat is Sc
we're, averaging in the shade from
ninety to ninety-five degrees Fahren-
heit. The rains generally begin about
the middle of July and last till Sep
TENDER. They are, however, said to be
very irregular, and sometimes there is
little or no rainfall. In the rainy sea-
son the barren ground stretching be-
tween the two rivers is covered with
grass, affording very good pasture.
The rivers begin to rise on the LIST of
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 middle of December, and lasts till
the middle of February. From No
vember to March high north winds pre-
vail, and during the remainder, south.
In the winter the thermometer some
times goes down as low as forty-six de-
grees Fahrenheit; except in the regular
rainy season there is no rain. The
unhealthy season is during the months
of June, July, October and November,
when typhoid fevers and dysentery are
prevalent. The winter il the healthy
season.
The resident population is generally
estimated at from fifty thousand to
fifty-five thousand souls, of which two
thirds are slaves. There is also a float
ing population estimated from one
thousand five hundred to two thousand
souls, and consisting of Europeans,
Syrians, Copts, Turks, Albanians and a
few Jews. The free resident population
are mostly Makhass or aborigines;
Dongolawees, from Dongola; Shag-
hiyes, from a district along the Nile,
north of Khartoum, and the Rubatat,
q district north of the Berber. The
slaves belong mostly to the Nuba,
Dinka, Sulook, Berta and other negro
tribes. Both the free population and
the slaves are Mohammedans of the
Maliki school of divinity, and are also
followers of either the Rufai, Kadri,
Hamdi or Saadi sect of dervishes. They
are very superstitious. Their political
creed is to side with whichever side is
the strongest. The free inhabitants are
mostly engaged in trade or commerce,
and the slaves in agriculture, or else
hired out as daily laborers by their
masters. But few are employed as
domestic servants. 1t is said that a
master always makes point of marry
ing his slave as soon as possible. 1t is
also reported that slaves born 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,
arc generally irregular soldiers or loaf
ers. The European element is repre-
sented by about one hundred individ-
uals, mostly Greek. There are also
some Italians. The chief export and
import trade is in the hands of the
Europeans, Copts and Syrians.
Except the manufacture of mats, cot
ton cloths, rope made from palm
leaves and some iligree silver-work,
there is no manufacture worth speak
ing of. The bazaar is of considerable
.ize, and is tolerably well supplied with
Manchester goods, cheap cutlery, etc.
The export and import trade is con-
siderable, and, besides numerous cara
vans, is said to employ over three hun
dred boats OF various size. A con-
siderable trade in grain is also carried
on with SEMINAR and Karkotsch. These
districts are practically the granaries OF
the Soudan.
In shape Khartoum is very irregular.
Its appearance is also poor and miser-
able. 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 hv