Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-11-16
A M0SLEM MESSIAH.
Exploits of the False Prophet on the
Blue Nile.
French Aggression on the southern
frontier of China
LONDON. Nov. Is 1882.

LONDON, Nov. IS 1882.
Various special dispatches to Lon,
don newspapers and kilograms ieceiv-
ed from Carlo say that the report from
Khartoum, dated October 80, of the
defeat of the False Prophet with great
slaughter is not believed. DR.. Schwein-
furth writes to the Antislavery Society,
under the date of Cairo, October %
that all the provinces of Egypt lying
south and west of Khartoum are in the
hands of fanatical insurgents, and that
khartoum is only hanging on by a
thread. The army has been cut
down by constant disastrous combats
with the False Prophet, and is reduc-
ed to half its original size. The mass
OF the population believe in the victori.
Gus False Prophet. Six thousand men,
Dr.lSchweinfurth says, where massacred
in June by Mahdi's army, which is
reported to number 10000 men, and
is desperately brave. As soon as the
town of 0heid has fallen the army, it is
expected will march on Khartoum
DR.. Schweinfurth also states that the
Governor OF Soudan estimates that
during the war $4,000 of the False Pro
phet's followers have persisted
ON A WHITE HORSE.
The False Prophet is evidently play
ing for a high stake. This is clear
from the name which he has assumed
for himself. He claims to be the Imam
Mahdi, or the last prophet Allah will
send to conquer the enemies of Islam
and rule supreme over the world. To
such a person, says the London NeWS,
all Mohammedans would kneel and
serve. Were he to appear in this
character as conqueror at Cairo the
eclipse of Arab, as we'll as of the khe-
dive, would be complete. The sultan
himself would cease to think of the
Caliphate in the presence of such a
potentate and representative of Allah
on earth. The Imam Mahdi is to
come, according to Mohamm edan be-
lief, accompanied with great signs and
wonders, and lie will appear shortly
before the judgment day. He com es
On white horse, and at the head OF
an army all mounted on white horses.
In this there is n manifest trace OF
scripture ideas, which the Mohamm e.
dams have followed and where the
Hebrew Messianic noions may be
traced. 1t bears at the same time a
strong emblance to the Kalki Avatar
of the Hindos, which is to make its
appearance on white horse, and when
the white horse stamps Is foot the
Kali, or black age, is to end and the
Crita, or golden age, will begin again.
1t need scarcely be stated that there
have been pretenders to this character
in the east, and the Indian bazaars dur
ing the mutiny often had wondrous
tales of his appearance leading his
army of white horses The Imam, Mahdi
must be visible ruler with power and
victory on his side, and if the presen,
pretender at khartoum manages tC
spread the report that he is killing his
enemies by the thousand he may be
accepted most willingly by the Moslems
Even the defeat of Arab, who claim ed
to be fighting for the cause of Islam
may have the effect of making the
Mohammedans turn to this man as
their coming Prophet. Should this
peculiar result come to pass, 1t may
give the British troops another cam
paign in Egypt, for the new Imam il
not likely to give any guarantees about
such a triile as the SueZ canal. Al
present he isa long way of. Khartoum
of which he is said to be absolute mas
= ter, is about 900 miles in direct line
from Cairo, and perhaps 1000 miles
following the winding of the Nile. The
town is the principal place in thal
region, and is situated among the palm
trees on the western bank of the Bahr-
el-Azrek, or the Blue Nile. This is close
to the junction of that branch with the
Bahr-e l-Aviad, or the White Nile. 1t is
this position at the union of the two
main branches of the Egyptian river
which gives Khartoum us strategical
Importance, and made it long the head.
quarters of the slave trade IN Upper
Egypt.
For some years past the telegraph
extended as far south rs this, and tray
elers who visit the place are entertain
ed there by the ruling pacha in a style
reminding them of PaIis-at least
those who have reached Khartoum
after travelling in the desert and bar
barous countries around say that II
e6eUIH ike ATS 10 ulD6 Will llc gov
ernor of khartoum, who produces
knives and forks, cut glass and silver
with MENU of fish, meat and game
and conversation carried on in French
A dance of Rawazi or Nautch girls Of
the locality, when cigarettes are being
smoked afterward, may just remind
them tina. they are not dining in a cafe
on the boulevards. The Imam Mahdi
lnstead'of accepting these civilities and
making believe he was in Paris, is re
ported to have killed Abd-El-Kader
the governor of the place, to have oc
cupied it, and is getting his Nubial
troops into disciplined condition in
order, no doubt, to carry on his con
quests and keep up the character he
has assumed.
-
Massachusetts, New Governor.
Cauarai Repi an1ip Eranklin Rlttlei