Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-11-15
TIE FALSE PROPHET.

The reader knows that the war in Egypt
with Aribi Pacha is closed, but 1t is not
known by everyone that in the far of do
main OF the khedIye, great religious war
is progressing. 4 war that is waged by a
man, vino i, styled by MS opponents as the
False Prophet, and by his followers ''Ihe
Imam Mahdi, OF the last prophet Allah"
The London Ne,cs writes OF him a. follows;
The False Prophet claims to be the Imam
Mahdi, or the last prophet Allah will send
to conquer the enemies OF Islam and rule
suprems over the world. To such person
all Mohammedans would kneel and serve.
Were he to appear in this character as a
conqueror at Cairo the eclipse OF Aribi, as
well as of the Khedive, would be complete.
The Sultan himself would cease to think of
the Csliphste in the presence of such a po-
.tentats and representative of Allah on earth
The Imam Mahdi is 10 come, according
to Mohamnedan belief, accom- panied with
great sign. and wonders, and he Will appear
shortly before the Judgment Day. lie
comes on white horses. In this there
is a manifest trace of Scripture ideas, whic h
the Mohamredins have followed and
where the Hebrew Messianic notions may
be traced. 1t need scarcely be stated that
there have been many prctenders TO this
character in the East, and the Indian ba-
Easrs during the mutiny often had wondrous
tsies OF his appearance leading his army of
white horses. The Imam Madhi must be a
visible ruler with power and victory on his
side, ana if the p[esent pretender at khar-
toum manages 10 spread tbs report that he
is killing ais enemies by the thousand he
may be accepted most willingly by the Mos
lens. Even the defeat OF Arab, who claim
cd TO be lighting Tor the cause OF Islam,
may have The effect of making the MOham-
medsns turn 10 th!s man as their comm z
Prophet. Should this peculiar result come
10 pass II may give the British troops an
other campaign in Egypt, for the new Imam
IS not likely to give any guarantees a0ou t
such triie as the Sucz Canal. At present
be is a long way off. Khartoum, or which
he is said ~ te absolute, is about 800 miles
in direct line from Cairo and perhaps 1900
miles following the winding OF the Nile.
The town is the principal place in that re-
gion, and Is situated among palm trees on
the western bank OF the Bahr-el-Azrek, OF
the Blue Nile. This is close to the junction
Of that branch with the Bahr-el-Avaid. Or
the White Nile. 1t is this position at the
union OF the two main branches of the
Egyptian river which gives KhartouIn lis
strategical importance, and made it long
the headquarters of the slave trade in Up-
per Egypt. For some years past the tele-
graph extended as far south as this, and
travellers who visit the place are entertain.
ed there by the ruling Pacha in style re-
minding them of Paris-at least those who
have reached KhartOum after travelling in
the desert and barbarous countries around
say that it seams like Paris to dine with the
Governor of Khartoum, who produce.
knives and forks, cut glass and silver aud q
menu of fish, meat and game and converse.
ton carried on in French. A dance of Raw.
azior Nautch girls of the locality, when Gig,
arettes are being smoked afterward, may re-
mind them that they are not dining in I
cafe on the boulevards. The Imam Mahdi
instead of accepting these civilities and
making believe he wa. in Paris, is report
cd TO have killed Abd-el-Kader, the Cover
nor OF the place, to have occupied it, and
is getting bis Nubian troops into a discip
lined condition in order, no doubt, to car.
ry On his conquests and keep up the char.
lcter he has assumed.