CHAPTEK XVII. 
KHARTOOM, FROM 30TH MARCH TILL 15TH APRIL 1863 — THE BLUE 
NILE — NATURAL PRODUCTS — ALI BEY — KHARTOOOM A CAN- 
TONMENT FOR TROOPS — ITS BAZAARS AND MANUFACTURES 
— THE COPTIC CHURCH — THE AUSTRIAN MISSION-HOUSE — 
EGYPTIAN REMAINS — DEPARTURE BY BOAT FOR BERBER. 
Half a century ago no town existed where the pre- 
sent Khartoom stands, at the confluence of the Blue 
and White Mies ; but, in the days of Egypt's great- 
ness, a city stood on the plain, on the right bank of 
the Blue river, not ten miles from the modern site. 
The origin of Khartoom forty-four years ago was a 
military post on the Egyptian frontier. Previous to 
annexation it belonged to Abyssinia : now it is a place 
of considerable trade, governed by Musa Pasha, and 
held by fifteen thousand Egyptian troops. The point 
of land on which the town is built is so low, that 
every season the streets are flooded by the overflow of 
the river, and still its locality is not changed, though 
all agree as to its unhealthiness. The derivation of 
Khartoom is most probably from the safflower (Cartha- 
mus tinctorius Z.), called here " Gartoom," cultivated 
all over Egypt for its oil, used in burning. Except 
2 c 
