Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-12-20
THE FALSE PROPHET.

KHARTOUM, Dec 13.-According to
the Koran, the El Nehdi, or Msssias, is
to appear this year, and all good Moham'
medans are prepared to receive and fol-
low him to subjugae the Giours, or Chris
tian dogs as they cdl all the Europeans.
Their anticipations ere partially fulfilled,
for some time ago there appeared in Sou
dan, a province of Egypt, an imposter
who called himself the Ell Mehdi, and
soon gathered around him mass of fol-
lowers and began in the name of Allah
to devastate the country and kill all who
did not believe in his holy mission. The
Egyptian Government sent first Colonel
Baker and subsequently Colonel Gordon
to war against him, but neither could eff
feet anything, as both the populace
and high officials were in league with the
false prophet, who furnished them with
money and female slaves. This false
prophet is one of the richest men in AT
rica, and is said to be as courageous as
he is cruel. His parents belonged to the
Bedua tribe of Bedoujns. He was taken
prisoner while young and sold to q Shiek
on the Upper Nile, who gave him the
name of Zecky. His master a slave-hun-
ter, employed him in that trade, where
he soon showed great efficiency, and
achieved the name of Kanitzen. or "blood-
drinker." BY frequent engagements with
Egyptian troops he learned something
about the art Of war, and his master
trusted him with the command of his
forces. Zecky, who longed for more
greatness, murdered his master and after
wards butchered his family, and engaged
in the traffic of slavehun.ing on his own
account. The Egyptian Government
concluded a treaty with him by which he
promised to commit no depredations in
Soudau, and to send the Khedlve every
year a certain quantity of ivory and 20
Young Nubi&n eunuchs Another stipu-
lation was that he was to have a free
pass through Soudan tobring his slaves
to market. The treaty was faithfully
kept by both parties uutil i; was denCunc-
ed by the British Anti-Slayery Society.
The Khedive was obliged to send force
against him, which was DEBATED. All
Soudan, except Khartoum, the prin-
cipal city was conquered by the false
prophet. AS he was about 10 begin an
assault upon this city, one of his follow
ers called out, chat the Mehdi will be
hidden for time prior 10 his manifesto
TONS" and Zecky retreated to fulfill the
prophecy of the Koran. He was on his
wav to make a second attack on this city
and his forces were moving i'll two col
umns when the Egyptian troops met ano
defeated them at Bara and ElObied, south
of here and saved the city from pillagt
and destruction. The false prophet re
treated and is about to gather new forces
to make another attempt, but as rein
forcements of troops are arriving, 1t Is
thought, his career is forever checked
and that he will be driven into the inter
ior of Africa. About five years ago an
other Ell Medhi appeared in the Southern
part of Tripoli. His name was Moham
med el Senoussi, aud he soon gathered {
large force about him. He frustrated al
attempts of the African explorers, Rolls
| Nachtigall and Duveyrier to cross Tripod
but finally left his followers to become :
hermit. Nothing has been heard of hin
since. A third Ell Mehdi is proclaimed
| =, +bo ,oroon of tho Sultan Of TIrkey