Melly’s visit. 
1850 
Sir Samuel 
Baker’s first 
visit, 1862 
Sanitaky Notes. Khartoum 
By the D I k e c t o k 
Historical . — It is always instructive, as well as interesting, to trace the sanitary history of 
any town or locality, ami this is especially the case in the Tropics, where, of late years, 
conditions have ra})idly altered in many places owing to increase of knowledge and the 
recognition of the primary importance of proper and adequate sanitary measures. 
In the Second Eeport of these Laboratories, tlie remarks of Schweinfurth, regarding the 
prevalence of malaria in old Khartoum, were (juoted and commented upon. On this occasion one 
has gone furtlier alield. Khartoum is not an ancient city, and in the past the literature dealing 
with it, save that of a military nature, has not lieen extensive It would appear that the town 
itself W’as founded l)y Mohammed Ali, somewhere alrout 1H30. No doubt prior to this date 
there had been habitations — fishermen’s huts and such like — on the site later occupied by 
the town, hut the latter may be said to date from alrout 1830, when a fortified camp was 
established on the land between the two Niles. 
In 1839, the Governor, Khursed Pasha, taught the Khartoumers how to make and use 
bricks for building purposes and persuaded them to give up their huts of skin and reeds.' 
By 1816, Khartoum had become a place of considerable importance. Petherick,'' who visited 
it then for the first time, speaks of an agreeable stay which he made there in March, hut notes 
the low-lying situation, the danger of inundations, and the consequent necessity for embank¬ 
ments. lie also testifies to the irregular construction of the town, and the presence of narrow 
and tortuous streets. Otherwise he does not comment upon its sanitary or insanitary condition. 
At that time there were only five European residents, apart from the few Eoman Catholic 
missionaries. In 1860, this number had increased to twenty-five. 
Petherick mentions the rainy season, but adds that there are usually only two or three 
heavy falls of rain during the summer, and that the sandy soil soon absorbs the water. 
In 1850, George Melly,'* an enterprising Liverpool man, and his family, penetrated as far as 
Khartoum. In the work edited by his sou we read of the town possessing about 3000 houses 
and a population of 30,000. There was a large garrison—10,000 infantry and 2000 cavalry. 
There were no wide thoroughfares, though here and there a space resembling a square could 
be encountered.^ The climate, it is noted, was pleasant in December, and it is interesting to 
learn that figs, bananas, pomegranates, and “ cream fruit ” were grown in the gardens together 
with grapes and oranges. How few of these are obtainable at the present time! The archi¬ 
tecture of the houses was primitive, and the streets are stated to be i|uite impassable after rain 
in the summer season, so much so that “ no one attempts to quit his dwelling during a rainfall.” 
Melly actually brought tinned salmon with him, supplied by Messrs. Portnum and Mason, 
and produced it at a dinner with great success. 
Sir Samuel Baker,-' however, is the first to give us some idea of Khartoum from a sanitary 
standpoiirt. He visited it in 1862, and describes it as a miserable, filthy, and unhealthy spot. 
The houses were chiefly built of unburirt brick, the town was densely crowded with a population 
of 30,000. It possessed neither drains nor cesspools, its streets were redolent with nuisances, 
and dead animals were allowed to lie about in them. On his return to Khartoum after his 
Nile voyage he found malignant typhus raging. Out of 4000 black troops, only 400 remained 
alive, and he again speaks with disgust of the filthy and crowded alleys. 
' Gleiohen, Count (1905), “ The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.” 
retheriek, .7. (Istti), '• Egypt, the Sudan, and Centra! .Africa.” 
“ Melfy, G. (IH.Al), “ Kliartoum and the Blue and AVhite Niles.” 
Its wide streets, planted with trees, and fine open spaces constitute one of the features of modern 
Khartoum, thanks largely to the zeal and energy of its Governor, Colonel E. A. Stanton. 
^ Baker, Sir S. W. (1867), ” .Albert Nyanza.” 
