The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-04-17
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xaAHfoun. n
Tho yanoa. e.i, ! i. vssl = =
| - Mia =
Tho city Of Khartoum, which ha
fallen into the hands Of the Falls,
Prophet, 10 the capital of the undefinet
district known as the Soudan. and th,
chief trade emporium for q largo sec
ton of the country round about L
ia built on q barren, stohelesx and
wide plain, on The Western bank q
Its junction With the White Nile. Il.
ever frontage is about one and one
half miles its depth inwards from
the river about mile. As its site n
somewhat lower than the point reached
by both rivers when In ilood, u Hykt
10 feet to 20 feet n height has beer
made along the banks of the Blue Nile,
and another somewhat lower, i'm.
mcdiately at the back of the town, ia
protect It against the overflow of the
White Nile. When at their lowest
point both streams are from Coo to S0C
Yards In width. and have several
Islands,, which are cultivated. The
White Mic il unfordabEe, except Ia
onc or two places far up the river,
but the Blue can be forded in. many
planes above the town.. When in flood
tho White Nile increases its width to
. very greater extent, but not So the
Blue Milo, US III banks are mucl,
sleeper. Around Khartoum are
several small villages. Both above
and below the town are small plan
tations of date palms and plantaine,
also number of vegetable gardens.
According to an old custom or privi-
lego none Of these gardens pay any
takes. With The Exception Of the
river banke tile country is t:r.v and
treeless. To the ncss;.n Of the city.
and directly at the confluence of the
two branches of the Nile, lies the
large island of Tut. The channel
between that island and the town
affords q slightly nearer approach I'd
the White Nile, which It enters di-
rectls opposite Omdurman, q fortified
camp in the midst Of the gardens on
the west bank of the White Nile. 1t
was from this point that Hicks Pasha
started out ON his ill-starred expedi-
zion in 1883, but for some time past ut
has been in the hands of the Mahdi's
forces.
Travellers nave described the appear.
ance of Khartoum as they approach 1t
by the river as "a long mud wall. with
few buildings Of greater Size than
architectural pfetentions peeping over
u" bit they all agree; from Mr..
George Nelly, who visited it thirty.
live years ago, to Sir Samual Baker
and General Gordon, in saying that its
external aspect is mitch to be preferred
to the reality found inside its walls.
This feature it shares with almost
every Oriental town that could be
named. There must, however, have
been eoinething exceptionally disa-
Erceable, in the smells of Khartoum
to have raised such unpleasant memo
rles and so strong a feeling of disgust
in the minds of SO many experienced
Eastern travellers General Gordon
has explained the reason WHY the
stencil can be tolerated and how 1t has
not produced the mortality that one
would have expected. The atmosphere,
except during the rainy season, is so
dry that everything sis dried up hard
in an incredibly short space of time.
The population of the city has fluct-
uated very much, principally in ac-
cordance with the character of the
Governor for the time being. II he
has not exceeded the limits Of human
endurance, khartoum has contained
as many as $4,000 people; but some
times official exactions have been too
many. and the population has fallen
to half that number. Some authorities
place the population as high DIS $4,000,
but all authorities agree that, while the
proportions of inmates ductuates;
there are 5000 houses in Khartoum.
These are of uniform character and
appearances, being mostly built of sun
dried brick, generally without an up
per story, and nearly all surrounded
by courtyards with mud walls. To
prevent these houses crumbling away
during the rains, they arc every year
plastcred over with dung before the
rainy season commences. This plas-
tering process is doubtless the cause
of good deal of the sickness which
prevails. MIR. Nelly, already referred
to, has given the following description
Of the place:
1.-The town consists of about 5000
houses, resembling those already de.
scribed. Architecture in these regions
being in an extremely primitive con.
dition. the arrangement of the streets
is Just what might DO expected from
the aspect Of the houses. There are
no spacious thoroughfares; here and
there appears something like square
or space. but the perspective generally
is by no means such as would satisfy
the humblest European judgement in
the art of building. The better class
Of houses are possessed either by the
Government officials or by the Euro.
pean residents. In some there are ap-
proaches to luxury, in others to COM
fort; indeed, it is but fair to acknowl.
edge that, with the addition of delight.
full gardens and a pleasant climate,
1t is not difficult to reconcile ourselves
to a residence within mud walls.''