New-York tribune., 1885-02-06
KHARTOUM
KHARTOUM.
CAPITAL OF THE EGYPTIAN soUDAN-srRATEGICAL
IMPORTANCE OF ITS POSITION.

kHAKIOUM.
CAPITAL OF THE EGYPTIAN soUDAN-srRArEGICAL
IMPORTANCE OF ITS POSITION.
The early history Of Khartoum is unknown save
that ruins in the neighborhood of the present town
Indicate 1t to have been an important outpost of the
imperial Government of the Pharaohs. The vicissi-
tudes of centuries finally reduced it TO tho position
OF subordinate town of SEMINAR, commercially trib-
utary to Shepdy, which, situated more than hun
dred miles further down the Nile. had become the
business centre of the entire Eastern Soudan. In
1910, however, Mehemet ALI the great Pacha and
first khedive OF Egypt, determined to extend his
sway as far as possible He accordingly sent up the
Nile an expedition commanded by his sons Ibrahm
-afterward Khedve for few weeks-aDd Ismal-
not the Khedye of that name OF course. The result
of this expedition was to conquer the Eastern Sou
dan and annex it to the.Egyptian realm, and Khar
toum. ut first made the base Of military operations
became In 1928 the seat of Government and soon
outstripped Shendy in commercial Importance In
1916, Pope Gregory XTl. founded mission there,
which was long conducted by DR.. Ignaz KnOblecher.
Several European consulates were also established
there that of England dating from 1910 to 1864. in
which latter year it was abolished under clrcun-
stances which gave rise 10 much comment.
The population of Khartoum has varied from
10000 to 10000, according to the policy of the
OONtfliOf; OIHcldl cxdcIIOnS IcIuchlly cauSiHS d
sudden exodus of one-thlrd of the inhabitants
The town contains however, about 5000 houses,
mostly of mud and millet stalks, and in only few
instances arranged in streets or squares The Gov
ernors house is the principal building in the city.
1t stands on the river bank, and General Gordon
says 1t is as arve as Marlborough House. London.
There have also been constructed some other build
ings of importance. for in 1871 DIR. Schw infurth
says he found there IA large number of new brick
buildings, n spacious quay on the Blue Nile, and
some imposing structures on the other bank OF the
river The land sides OF the city are surrounded by
q wall and ditch. The drainage of the place is bad
much OF il lying below the level of high water III
fouls meiIing city. The inhabitants are EgyptiaEs
l}erbers. Arabs, Turks. Jews. negroes aud
Europeans.
KhaItoum lies on the south bank of the Bahr el-
Azrak or Blue Nile. II mile above (sOutb of the
junction of that river with the Eahr-e Abiad, ol
White Nile and the city walls reach 10 within less
than half mile of the latter that the garrison &
khartOum cOmmanl is both streams On the oihel
side of the White Nile is the terminus of the great
caravan ronte to Dongola and the fortified cant
from which General Hickss ilfated expedition ST.
out. DppOito kbartOum is the Island of luti
dividing the Blue Nile into two branches The city
is thus tine most important post strateglcay con-
sdered the Upper Nile, and is the natural centre
of military power in the Equatorial Provinces. Ii
one Otner respe II ~ even more important u
Egypt II is at Khaitoum that the Nilomete
records tho rising OF the waters and Indicates q
the farmers of the Delta the influence the meltin,
snow will exercise upon the volume OF the strean
upon which their prosperity and very existence dc
bend.