Men and children i Khartoum

IN KHARTOUM

Men and children in Khartoum, Sudan. In the background, you can see one of the ladies of the von Hallwyl’s party, with her face hidden behind a parasol.

Ida Uhse writes in her travel diary:
“Khartoum, 2nd of Feb. It is very hot here. Construction of the hotel is being finished, and in time it will be a splendid place for the English. Khartoum is on the banks of the Nile. Up until now, the Mahdi, the feared dervish, had annihilated the cities and villages that would not submit. He has also been ravaging and destroying on the north bank of the Nile. The power of the Mahdi was ended by General Gordon in the battle of Omdurman in 1885.

Khartoum, 3rd of Feb. In the morning, the men went hunting, and Lieutenant von Geijer shot a black sea-bird, which is very rare in these parts and actually belongs in the tropics. The Count shot an ibis and also saw the tracks of a hippopotamus which had its young nearby. The Count also brought back a clam. The crocodiles only come to Khartoum later on, when the water is lower and there are no more boat tours. These dangerous animals make many blacks disappear while bathing. Several years ago, a 4-metre crocodile ate two blacks and bit the leg off a horse. The crocodile was shot and is currently hanging in the entrance hall of the Commodore’s palace, where we saw this giant creature along with many weapons."