Ivory in Omdurman.

Manawatu Herald, 10 November 1898, Page 2

Ivory in Omdurman.

A rut improbable result of the fall of Omdurman (writes a correap>o;i'nt of the Daily News), is a slump in iviry. Daring the twelve y.mrs of Slatia Bey's captivity in that city of straw huts, he was an eye witDo33 of the piling up of the spoil-! of tyranny in the palace. The wealih of great part of the Upper Soid in consists of slaves and ivory — or rathnr consisted, f or the land bad bseu swept bare by the Khalifa. SLws were at times a drug in the uiukft, and the Khalifa had a short way of reducing the number. Of iho value of ivory he has always had a keen appreciation, He looks upon bis ivory store as a species of sinking fan 1, and there is every reason to believe that his accumulation ia intact. Besides, the Nile and Suakim trade routes have been effectually barred for many years. If Statin is right, there ought to bd ivory enough at Omdurman to flood the market. As everyone knows, the d mand for ivory in these days far exceeds the supply. .It will be curious if one of the first fruits of General Kitchener's success is tb% cheapening of knife handles, billiardr bdllr', inlay work, and pianoforte key 3. Dieppe, which is now the chief ivory factory of Europe, should be interested in an inventory of the loot of Omdurman.