Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-03-13

Description of Khartoum, the Most Inn
portant Military Post ON tho 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 wal in the Soudan, a 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 a 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
COLA and the fortified camp from which Gen
eral Hicks Inflated expedition set out.
Opposite Khartoum is the Island OF Tut,
dividing the Blue Nile into two branches.
The city is thus the most important lost,
strategically considered, ON the Upper Nile,
and is the natural center of military power
i'll the Equatorial Provinces. In IL other
respect it is even more important to Egypt.
1t is at Khartoum that the Nilonleter records
the 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 nelghborhood Of the present town in
dictate it to have been an important outpost
of the Imperial Government Of the Phara-
Obs. The vicissitudes of centuries finally
reduced it to the position Of a subordinate
town Of Senaar, commercially tributary
to Silendy, which, situated more than
a hundred miles further down the
Nile, had become the business center
of the entire Eastern Soudan. III 1919,
however, Mehemet Ali, the great Pacha and
first khedive of Egypt, determined to extend
his sway as far as possible. He accordingly
sent Zip the Nile an expedition commando
eel by his son 1brahim = afterWard
Kheaiye for a few weeks-and 1smail-not
the kllediye Of that name. of course. The
result OF his expedition was to conquer the
Eastern Soudan and annex it to the Egypt
ian realm, II khartoum, at first made the
base of military operations. became in 1923
the seat Of Government and outstripped
Shendy in commercial Importance. III
1916 Pope Gregory XVI. founded q mis-
SOL there, which was long conducted by
Dr.. lgnaz knoblecher. Several European
c%onsulateS were also established there, that
of England dating from 1919 to 1864, in
which latter year it 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 eNactions fire.
quvntiy causing a 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 a
few instances arranged III streets or
squares. The Governors house is the
principal building in the city. 1t stands on
the river bank, and Ge.scral Gorien said it
was as large rs Marlborough House, London.
There have also been constructed some other
buildings of Importance. for in 1871 DR..
Schweiliurth says he found there a large
number OF new brick buildings. a spacious
quay Oh the Blue Nile, and some imposing
structures on the other bank of the river.
The iaAsl sides OF the city are surrounded
by a wall and ditch. The drainage of the
place Is bad, much of it lying below the
level of high water in the river; consc-
qucEtly, it is an unhealthful and foul
smelling city. The inhabitants are Egypt
ians, Bcrbers, Arabs, Turks, Jews, Negroes
and EHopeans.
DISTANCES.
From Cairo to Old Dongola, about loco
Mills.
From Old Dongola to Korti. abont so rifles.
From korti to Meteinncll. lS5 miles.
Frou! MSte!nnch TO khartounl. - miles