Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-02-27
SEAT OF THE souDAN WAR.
Description of Khartoum, tho Most Inn
portant Military Post on the Upper

Description of Khartoum, tho Most Im-
portant Military Post on the Upper
Nile.
This map says the Chicago Standard Ito
which paper we are indebted for the above
cut, will give our readers a 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 mile of
the latter, so that the garrison OF
khartOum commands both streams.
On the other side of the White Nile is tho
terminus of the great caravan route to Don
COLA 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
stratcgically considered, on the Upper Nile,
and is the natural center Of military power
in the Equatorial Provinces. In one other
respect it is even more important to Egypt.
1t is at Khartoum that the Nilometer records
tie rising of the waters, and indicates to 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 i'll
dictate it to have been an important outpost
of the Imperial Government of the Phara-
obs. The vicisstudes of centuries finally
reduced it TO the position of q subordinate
town of Senaar, commercially tributary
TO Shendy, which, situated more than
hundred miles further down the
Nile, had become the business center
of the entire Eastern Soudan. In 1919,
however, Mehcmet 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 commando
ed by his sons Ibrahim afterward
kliedive for few weeks-and Ismail--not
the Khediye of that name. of course. The
result of this expedition was to conquer the
Eastern Soudan and annex it to the Egypt
ian realm, and Khartoum, at first made the
base of military operations, became in 1923
the seat of Government and outstripped
Shendy in commercial Importance. in
1886 Pope Gregory XVI. founded mis-
sion there, which was long conducted by
III. lplldL CGNtidl
cOnsulates were also established there, that
of England dating from 1s49 10 1864, in
which latter year 1t was abolished under
circumstances which gave rise to much COM
ment.
The population of khartoum has varied
from 10000 to $4,000, according TO the pol
icy of the Governor; official eXactions fire.
quentiy causing sudden exodus of one
third of the inhabitants. The town con-
tains however, about 5000 houses, mostly
of mud and millet stalks, and in only
few instances arranged in streets or
squares. The Governors house is the
principal building in the city. 1t stands on
the river bank, and General Gordon said it
was as large as Marlborough House, London.
There have also been constructed some other
buildings of Importance, for in 1871 DIR.
Sciweinlurth says lie found there large
number of new brick buildings, spacious
quay on the Blue Nile, and some imposing
structures OH the Otlier bank of the river.
The land sides of the city are surrounded
by wall and ditch. The drainage OF the
place is bad, much of it lying below the
level of high water In the river; cOnse-
Quently, 1t is an unhealthful and foul
smelling city. The inhabitants are Egypt
ians, Berbers, Arabs, Turks, Jews, Negroes
and Europeans.
DISTANCES.
From Cairo to Old Dongola, about 1000
miles.
From Old Dongoln to Kort. about 90 miles.
From Korti 10 Mctemnch, ls5 miles
From Mctenneh 10 khartoum, % miles.