414 GOVERNMENT HOUSE BARRACKS. 
Besides these there were small coins of gold valued at 
4 and 8f groosli or piastres. In Abyssinia, where the 
smallest coin is a bit of salt, the five-franc piece is 
valued at 28 piastres ; at Galabat, Mr Aipperly in- 
formed me, its value falls to 1 8 piastres ; but at Cairo 
it rises to 34. On Speke drawing £150, the account 
was as follows, the banker (Lutfullah), with great 
liberality", remitting the charge for exchange : — 
Piastres. Para. 
100 napoleons, at 77 piastres each, .... 7700 0 
379 francs or Egyptian dollars, at 19-10 piastres each, 7295 30 
4 J piastres, 4 10 
Total, 15,000 0 
There is but one public building in Khartoom, the 
Government House, which overlooks the Blue Nile, 
and is a substantial brick edifice. A flight of steps 
leads up to the reception-hall, which is lofty and hand- 
some, hung round with engravings of naval engage- 
ments, &c. In the courtyard Lubach- trees (Acacia 
lebbek) give shade to orderlies and officials. Baths 
and all conveniences are attached to the suites of 
rooms, and comfortable stabling is provided for cavalry 
and horse-artillery. We were shown through the pow- 
der-magazine, a mile distant from the town ; it con- 
tains an immense store of ammunition, neatly arranged 
in cases. A barrack, simply walled round and almost 
smothered with drifted sand, is in the vicinity. The 
minaret we had observed on first approaching Khar- 
toom is part of the mosque of the town; it is pro- 
tected from the houses of the city by a high wall of 
stone, and sentries guard the gateways. 
Walking through the streets with Ali Bey, he led 
us into a walled enclosure, where there were from 
