Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-08-04
TnE FALSE PROPHET.
Interesting Account of the MOslen
Leader In the SOudan.

Mohammed Achmet, the False Prophet of
the Soudan, was born in the region of Dom
COLA, on the Western bank of the Nile, where
it makes its great bend. lie was poor
man, u carpenter and boat builder by trade.
He first came into notriety on the large island
of Abbas, situated about 200 miles south of
khaltoum. Here, after the fashion OF the
fakirs and holy men, he withdrew from So
ciety and devoted himself to prayer and
meditation. He soon had large following,
aud proclaimed himself the expected prophet
and delivcier of the people He wrote letters
all over the country announcing himself and
his mission. He was recognized at once as
leader. While many of the more intelligent
Moslems repudated him, others moved both
by religious and political motives, and who,
above all, hoped that he would show them
some way TO escape the payment of their
taxes. flocked around his standard. He was
secretly encouraged and abetted by enemies
of the government residing at Khartoum.
His presence in 50 commanding a position
on the Nile soon became obnoxious to the
authorities ut khartoum, and an expedition
was organized TO dislodge him. A detach-
mcnt Of l20 men Of the regular army was
sent against him on the island. These men
NcIC DdulN nhuuScu, uut, uitHOugu tHtN
were armed with the best make Of the Rem
ington rifles. while Mohammed Achmet and
his band had only their spears, they were
killed one after the other MS fast us they
landed, till not one of the 100 was left. Not
n shot was fired. 1t was slaughter like the
sticking of so many pigs. The steamer with
its crew and one or two officers escaped
back to khartoum with the sad news OF
course, after this exploit Mohammed
Achmet knew it would not do for him with
his present forces to remain where he was.
lie therefore gathered together all bis fol-
lowing-men women and children, cattle
and provisions crossCd the Mic to the west
bank and fled to wild mouHtain called
Gebel Gedir, 200 miles southwest of the land
Of Abbas, and about 90 miles northwest of
the penal colony and military station of
Fashoda Here, in an easily defended and
almost inaccessible mountain, he took up his
abode. The Baggara Arabs, the former
slave hunters of the White Nile, now began
| to flock to his standard in great numbers.
This tribe is noted for its restless, lawless,
unruy spirit. 1t was the policy of the gov
eminent to let the rebels alone now that
they had left the river, thinking that they
would soon lose their zeal and dispcrse for
want of provisions. But new Governor of
Fashoda had been appointed, who considered
it his duty to signalizc his loyalty by organ
izlng another expedition against the rebels.
Contrary to orders from khartoum, he
gathered the military forces from Kaka,
Faslioda, and the station at the mouth of the
Sobat; in all, 600 soldiers of the regular
army. With these he Joined 200 men of the
large native tribe of the Shllooks, under the
King of the Shillooks-S00 men all told
With these he marched six days across the
desert by forced marches. On the seventh
day, when the men were all tired out from
the long march and utterly unfit for action,
they met the enemy. MOhammed Achmet
was again victorious The fight was turned
into slaughter Sixty men were taken
prisoners by the rebels; only seventy es-
capped by running for III and all the rest
were slain. The Governor of Fashoda and
the King of the Shillooks were killed.