{"id":215,"date":"2026-01-06T14:13:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T14:13:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/word\/?p=215"},"modified":"2026-01-06T14:13:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T14:13:15","slug":"the-general-aspect-of-the-soudan-is-that-of-misery-nor-is-there-a-single-feature-of-attraction-to-recompense-a-european-for-the-drawbacks-of-pestilential-climate-and-brutal-associations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.aberth.com\/samuelwhitebaker\/the-general-aspect-of-the-soudan-is-that-of-misery-nor-is-there-a-single-feature-of-attraction-to-recompense-a-european-for-the-drawbacks-of-pestilential-climate-and-brutal-associations\/","title":{"rendered":"The general aspect of the Soudan is that of misery; nor is there a single feature of attraction to recompense a European for the drawbacks of pestilential climate and brutal associations"},"content":{"rendered":"

The general aspect of the Soudan is that of misery; nor is there a single feature of attraction to recompense a European for the drawbacks of pestilential climate and brutal associations. To a stranger it appears a superlative folly that the Egyptian Government should have retained a possession the occupation of which is wholly unprofitable, the receipts being far below the expenditure malgre the increased taxation. At so great a distance from the sea-coast and hemmed in by immense deserts, there is a difficulty of transport that must nullify all commercial transactions on an extended scale.<\/p>\n

The great and most important article of commerce as an export from the Soudan is gum arabic. This is produced by several species of mimosa, the finest quality being a product of Kordofan; the other natural productions exported are senna, hides, and ivory. All merchandise both to and from the Soudan must be transported upon camels, no other animals being adapted to the deserts. The cataracts of the Nile between Assouan and Khartoum rendering the navigation next to impossible, camels are the only medium of transport, and the uncertainty of procuring them without great delay is the trader’s greatest difficulty. The entire country is subject to droughts that occasion a total desolation, and the want of pasture entails starvation upon both cattle and camels, rendering it at certain seasons impossible to transport the productions of the country, and thus stagnating all enterprise. Upon existing conditions the Soudan is worthless, having neither natural capabilities nor political importance; but there is, nevertheless, a reason that first prompted its occupation by the Egyptians, and that is, THE SOUDAN SUPPLIES SLAVES.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The general aspect of the Soudan is that of misery; nor is there a single feature of attraction to recompense a European for the drawbacks of pestilential climate and brutal associations. 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The rainfall is uncertain and scanty; thus the country is a desert, dependent entirely upon irrigation. Although cultivation is simply impossible without a supply of water, one of the most onerous taxes is that upon the sageer\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nile"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":217,"url":"http:\/\/www.aberth.com\/samuelwhitebaker\/throughout-the-soudan-money-is-exceedingly-scarce-and-the-rate-of-interest-exorbitant-varying-according-to-the-securities-from-thirty-six-to-eighty-per-cent\/","url_meta":{"origin":215,"position":1},"title":"Throughout the Soudan money is exceedingly scarce and the rate of interest exorbitant, varying, according to the securities, from thirty-six to eighty per cent","date":"December 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Throughout the Soudan money is exceedingly scarce and the rate of interest exorbitant, varying, according to the securities, from thirty-six to eighty per cent. This fact proves general poverty and dishonesty, and acts as a preventive to all improvement. So high and fatal a rate deters all honest enterprise, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nile"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":213,"url":"http:\/\/www.aberth.com\/samuelwhitebaker\/khartoum-is-a-wretchedly-unhealthy-town-containing-about-thirty-thousand-inhabitants-exclusive-of-troops\/","url_meta":{"origin":215,"position":2},"title":"Khartoum is a wretchedly unhealthy town, containing about thirty thousand inhabitants, exclusive of troops","date":"February 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Khartoum is a wretchedly unhealthy town, containing about thirty thousand inhabitants, exclusive of troops. In spite of its unhealthiness and low situation, on a level with the river at the junction of the Blue and White Niles, it is the general emporium for the trade of the Soudan, from which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nile"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":362,"url":"http:\/\/www.aberth.com\/samuelwhitebaker\/the-day-arrived-for-our-departure-the-oxen-were-saddled-and-we-were-ready-to-start\/","url_meta":{"origin":215,"position":3},"title":"The day arrived for our departure; the oxen were saddled, and we were ready to start","date":"November 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The day arrived for our departure; the oxen were saddled, and we were ready to start. Crowds of people cane to say \"good-by;\" but, dispensing with the hand-kissing of the Turks who were to remain in camp, we prepared for our journey toward HOME. Far away though it was, every\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nile"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":50,"url":"http:\/\/www.aberth.com\/samuelwhitebaker\/cassala-was-built-about-twenty-years-before-i-visited-the-country-after-taka-had-been-conquered-and-annexed-to-egypt\/","url_meta":{"origin":215,"position":4},"title":"Cassala was built about twenty years before I visited the country, after Taka had been conquered and annexed to Egypt","date":"May 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Cassala was built about twenty years before I visited the country, after Taka had been conquered and annexed to Egypt. The general annexation of the Soudan and the submission of the numerous Arab tribes to the Viceroy have been the first steps necessary to the improvement of the country. 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