The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-16
A STORY OF The AFRICAN DESERT
THE VENDETTA AMONG THE ARABIANs.
LIFE IN THE DESERT.
How Revenge is Satisfied -Mehemed
Ais Determination.
THE CHIEFS OF THE ABABDEs.
LIFE FOR LIFE.


KHARroUM, April 10, 1872.
Few people, probably, aware that the ven
delta Is as popular among the Arabs as among the
Corscans; but such Is really the case. l have
since my arrival here. heard OF instances in which
family feud was kept up to the fourth or nth
generation-kept up, in fact until one or other of
the hostile families was extinct. As good illus.
tration OF how the system works win tell you
story with regard to the family Abade, which in
habits the land OF Berber and rules over the Cors-
can passage in the Nubian desert, between Berber
and Koraske In the second decade, after
the Turkish invasion OF soudan about thirty-six
years ago. while the stern Mehemed All still held the
sceptre OF Egypt with iron hand, the Turkish Gov
ernor Abbas Aga ruled in the province Of Berber-
man stern and just, as the treatment OF the wild
Inhabitants OF internal Africa and the political
condition OF the newly conquered country at that
time demanded. Abbas Aga at one time under
took journey OF inspection into the neighboring
province OF Taxa. Tie chief Of the Ababdes an
Arabian named Challfa, took advantage OF the alb
scence OF the ruler to restore his former s0ver-
eighty in his own country. He assembled 1000
cavalry, stormed the chief town Mucherif mur-
dered the Turkish officials, robbed the Treasury
and declared himself legitimate sovereign Of tho
country
ABBAs AGA
was at Cos Redjeb, with 400 soldiers and two can
non, when he received information OF the insur-
rection. He quickly returned with his escort back
to Berber, the chief town OF which the insurgents
had meantime left, having entrenched themselves
at Gemneta, close to the HILL behind wall. Abbas
Aga hemmed them In and shot them down to the
last man. Not soul was spared. Ten thousand
spearsmen remained dead on the spot, among the
rest the chief Chalif His brother, Baraka, stepped
into his place as chief of the Ababde. Peace and
order were thus restored for some years, till
Abbas Aga died. On receiving the news OF the
death of his faithful servant Mehemed Ali ordered
the brother OF the deceased, SULLIVAN Ago, to go
from Cairo to Berter to take possession Of the
property and to bring the family that had been left
behind to Cairo. Suliman Aga came to Berber. OBJ
tanned possession OF the property Of his brother,
and nnally brought his family. four boys, who had
scarcely passed infancy and their mother. through
the Nuban desert from Berber to Korosko. AS Sail
man Aga was the deputy OF the great Mehemed All,
and as besides he entrusted with the transport
OF the State chest, he was accompanied by seventy
or eighty soldiers. The caravan road is In the
hands of the Ababde, and Baraka collected there
camels and men of his stock. This journey was the
last opportunity OF avenging the blood OF their
chief and their brethren on the blood relations OF
the murderer. The deed Of vengeance arranged
and resolved upon was NO secret. About half
way through the desert
THE CARAVAN ENCHANTED AT MIDNIGHT
in the valley of SUR, and, being fatigued by their
journey, the travellers carelessly gave them
selves up to sleep. The well known quietness
and security Of the desert may have been
the cause why SULLIVAN Aga notwith-
standing that he mac much money with him. was
so imprudent as TO tx no sentrtes over the camp.
In this valley the hand Of vengeance was to strike.
The Ababdes, who, when travelling are armed
with swords fell upon their enemies while they
were still sleeping, at two O'Clock in the morning.
and killed SULLIVAN Aga, together with all his fol-
lowers.
IN FEW MINUTES EIGHTY PERSONS WERE DEAD.
The young children and their mothers were
spared, since the custom OF the vendetta can be
exercised only on men. The property Of Abbas Aga
and the State chest fell into the hands Of the
SINS The children were brought back to the banks
OF the Nile. and there exposed to their fate. and
the Arabans disappeared with their plumber into
the interior Of the DESERT Thereupon the memo
rable Mehmed Ali ordered the Governor of Soudan,
Ahmed Pasha to send the head of Baraka to him
and extoru the plundered heritage and the State
chest to the last farthng from the family OF Ababde.
Ahmed Pasha fitted out q suitable expedition,
with the order to pursue to the last drop OF his:
blood Baraka, who, alter the above mentioned
affair, had fed into the territory OF the neighborng
family, Bischarin. Baraka was entrapped and cut
had been ordered, was sent to Cairo. In his place
his nephew
HUssEIN CHALIPA, THE FAvoRITE SON
OF Chalifa mentioned above, became chief OF the
Ababde. He had to atone for the SINS OF his an
cestors; he had to pay the indemnity for the
plundered State Treasury, and the heritage OF the
family OF Abbas Aga. An agreement was entered
into by which he was bound to pay certain
monthly sum to the heirs for thirty years, and this
period Of thirty years did not terminate until two
years ago. The four children who had been left In
the desert were brought to Egypt, and there
reared when they we're grown up, one OF the
brothers, Ahmed Aboas, returned to Berber, and
there obtained employment from the government,
at the same time receiving monthly instruments OF
his legacy from Husseip.
Hussein Chalifa was cleverer than his ancestors;
he masked his evil designs under prcpossessing
exterior, protesting himself to be O faithful and
obedient servant OF the ruler OF Egypt. His thirst
for vengeance was not however, satiated- the i'm
mense sums he had to pay, the blood OF his father,
OF his uncle, and OF so many thousands of his
STOCK called aloud for vengeance. Accordingly he
sought to utilize for his own purposes the scan
dalous maladministraton Of the Turkish oficlas.
Two years ago he succeeded In obtaining access to
the Viceroy and In convincing him Of his own
loyalty and of the rapid decay OF the state under
the Turkish regime. As result the higher Turk
ish ofrcials were deposed and Hussein Chalifa was
appointed "Mudir" OF Berber and Dougoa.
Whether the viceroy acted wisely in appointing as
Governor Of two provinces remote rom the seat
OF government man who was the chief Of o re-
bellious family, family thirsting for vengeance,
future events will show. Hussein Chalifa pro-
ceeded to remove the Turkish element, oiled his
orlces with natives dispensed with all garri-
sons, an indispensable number OF sent-
nels on the pretence OF economy. and obtained
considerable influence over the weak-willed and
mindless Pashs OF Khartoum. rhe Pssha became
50 subject to Hussein Pasha that be asked for his
advice every question:, matter how trivial,
so that In the end 10 Hussein. and not the
Pasha, that ruled IN Khartoun. short time ago
Hussein seemed 10 nave obtained the object OF all
his plots ana desires. de accused one OF Abbas