KHARTOUM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1488, 14 March 1885, Page 2

KHARTOUM.

Kh&rtoum is the chief city, as well as the capital, of the Soudan country claimed by Egypt. It is located on the peninsula formed by the junction of the Blue and White Nile. The dockyards and principal landings are on the Blue Nile. The water in the river ia about 1,400 feet above the level of the sea. There is an extensive quay on the Vanki of the river, where the principal commerce of a country as large as all India naturally centres. , Tne provinces of the Soudan are not commercial to any great extent, but these great rivets bring to this point a great number of ships, and you see along the margin of the beautiful river lonar lines of vessels and masts, which give life and the appearance of civilisation. The principal products are ivory, hides, senna, gum arabic, and beeswax. It will be Been that all these productions are natural, and not the result of industry or cultivation. The inhabitants of that country are notoriously indolent, and someone has said that bees are the only industrious creatures in that whole country. A great

portion of the city lies low, bo that at high water it is flooded, which renders it unhealthy, but it is believed that some day a remedy for that evil will be provided. The gardens around that city are extensive, and contain long rows of date palms, many of which are half a century old and have become very valuable. The view of the city from the opposite side of the river is very fine. The groves of palm trees shading the numerous buildings, and their dark green foliage contrasting with the bright colors of the buildings makes a view that is captivating to behold ; but a nearer view of the city destroys the , romance, for it is dirty and vile. This is , not one of the ancient cities of those great • valleys. It w<s founded by Mohammed \ Ali in 1823, and the slave trade gathered i here, and the city increased in population rapidly, and in 1859 had 40,000 inhabitants. The people «re a strange mixture of all colors, co»=H ßtin g °f Egyptians, Berbers, Arab* Turks, Jews, Europeans and i Blacks The principal parts of the town copjftts of mud built hut*, but quite re- i oenfcly a large number of modern build- i I ings have been erectod, which look sub- l atantial and imposing, especially the new < palice for the Governor, which is of fine ( faced stone. The city is the centre of ( the caravan trade from the interior of 1 Africa, which is a reliable trade and a ( great source of wealth to the city, but the ( slave trade has been a source of great g profit, and many thousands of poor slaves C have been brought to this market, and I from here sent to all the slave markets in C the world. The city is 1.500 miles from f n Cairo, and the voyage down the river is Isi long and tedious. J a