The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-02-25
SEAT OF THE soUDAN WAR.

Description Of Khartoum, tho Most I'm
portant Military Post on tho Upper
Nile.
This map, says the Chicago Standard TO
which paper we are indebted for the above
eut), will give our readers good idea Of
the seat Of war in the Soudan, region
whose geography has hitherto been but lit
tie known to the American people. The
city Of Khartoum, which has so long been
the objective point Of public interest, is To-
Gated on the south bank Of the Bahr-el-
Azrak, or Blue Nile, mile above (south of
the junction Of that river with the Bahr-el-
Abiad, or White Nile, and the city walls
reach to within less than half q mile Of
the latter, so that the garrison Of
Khartoum commands both streams.
On the other side of the White Nile Is the
terminus Of the great caravan route to Don
gola and the fortified camp from which Cen
eral Hicks ill-fated expedition set out.
Opposite KhartOum is the Island OF Tuti,
dividing the Blue Nile into two branches.
The city is thus the most important post
strateglcally considered, on the Upper Nile,
and is the natural center OF military power
in the Equatorial Provinces. In one other
respect II is even more important 10 Egypt.
II Is at Khartoum that the Nilometer records
the rising Of the waters, and indicates 10 the
farmers OF the Delta the influence the melt
ing snow will exercise upon the volume Of
the stream upon which their prosperity and
very existence depend.
Its early history Is unknown. The ruins
In the neighbOrhOOd Of the present town In
dlcate II TO have been an important outpost
Of the Imperial Government Of the Phara-
obs. The yicissitudes Of centuries finally
reduced 1t TO the position Of q subordinate
town Of SeDaar, commercially tributary
to Shendy, which, situated more than
hundred miles further down the
OF the entire Eastern Soudan In 1919,
however, Mehemet Ali, tho great Pacha and
first Khediye ofEgypt determined TO extend
his sway as far as possible. lie accordingly
sent up the Nile an expedition command
ed by his sons Ibrahlm afterward
Khedive for few weeks-and Ismail--not
the Khedlye Of that name, Of course. The
result Of this expedition was TO conquer the
Eastern Soudan and annex II 10 the Egypt
ian realm, and Khartoum, at first made the
base Of military operations, became In 1898
the seat Of Government and outstrlpped
Shendy In commercial Importance. In
1S46 Pope Gregory XVI. founded mis-
sion there, which was long conducted by
DR.. lgnaz Knoblecher. Several European
consulates were also established there that
of England dating from lS49 to 1864, In
which latter year II was abolished under
circumstances which gave rise 10 much COM
ment
The population OF Khartoum has varied
from 10000 to $4,000, according 10 the pol
icy Of the Governor; official exactons fro
quently causing q sudden exodus OF one
third OF the inhabitants. The town con-
talns, however, about 5000 houses mostly
Of mud and mlllet stalks, and In only
few instances arranged In streets or
squares. The Governors house Is the
principal building In the city. II stands on
the river bank, and General Gordon said 1t
was as large as Marlborough House, London
There have also been constructed some other
buildings Of Importance, for In 1871 DIR.
Schwelnfurth says lie found there o large
number OF new brick buildings, q spacious
quay on the Blue Nile, and some imposing
structures OH the other bank Of the river.
The land sides Of the city are surrounded
by a wall and ditch. The drainage OF tho
place Is bad, much Of II lying below the
level Of high water In the river; conse-
quently, II is an linhealthful and foul
smelling city. The inhabitants are Egypt
ians, BerberS, Arabs, Turks, Jews, Negroes
and Europeans.
DISTANCES.
From Cairo TO Old Dongola, about 1000
milcs. III
From Old DonFoln TO Rorti about 10 uules.
From Korti 10 Mctcmnch. lH5 miles.
From hotcinnch TO khnrtoum. % milcs