Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-10
COMING OF TIE NEW PROPHET

The telegraph will probably, for some
time to come, be bringing us details respect
ing the new Mahommedan prophet, spoken
of as "ihe false prophet" who has begun war
near Khartoum against the ruling authority
in Egypt. This prophet claims to be the
person Mohammed spoke of when he said
that a prophet would arise at period
when the true faith was threatened with
dangers. He gave the name of the future
prophet, and described certain peculiarities
of his person, and his history, and family.
Several years ago the attention of Islam was
drawn toward a young man who had the
name, the personal pecu!iarities, and various
other particulars that had been foretold.
November was also foretold to be the month
at which the predestinated man would begin
a career of conquest which should make
Islam glorious throughout the earth, and es-
tablish everywhere its divine authority.
Accordingly we find the new prophet 10 lie
now surrounded by thousands of enthusiastic
followers, by whose aid he has opened the
war that is to be 80 disastrous to unbelievers
in the Mohammedan faith. Advices received
in Cairo, from which .Khsrtoum is distant
900 miles, states that all the prov
ipces situated south and west OF Khartoum
are in the hands of the prophets followers,
who are preparing to attack Khartoum itself.
Khartoum rs a town of Nubia. Nubia is
situated on the Nile, and borders Egypt on
one side and Abyssinia on the other, having
also as boundaries the Red sea in one direc-
ton and the great desert on the other. 1t
was invaded in 1921 by the Egyptian pasta
Mehemet Ali, and was subjected to Egypt.
Khartoum is The chief seat of the Egyptian
dominion government, and lies near the
junction of the White and the Blue Nile.
The to wn is a scattered one, with few build
ings of importance. The population is about
10000. 1t is a place of recent growth {,
sprung up since Mehemet Ais conquest
It has carried on a considerable commerce
in slaves, gold. ivory and skins, broughtfrom
the interior Of Africa in boats down the Nile,
and in caravans across the desert. The mass
of the population believe in the new prophet,
who claims for himself the appellation OF
Imam Mahdi, the last prophet whom Allah
will send, and who will defend the
faithful, conquer their enemies, and
become supreme ruler of the world.
With victory such man would be
a power to whom the Sultan of Turkey HIM
self would have to surrender the caliphate,
and all Mohammedans would kneel before
and serve him. After the Imam Mahdi has
made the true faith universal, the Moham-
medan traditions say the judgment day will
soon come. The Imam is to come on
white horse, heading an army mounted alto
upon white horses. Pretenders 10 be the fore
told-ofprophet have appeared before this time,
but the true one will be known by his victo-
rIes anu 10y tho power of his rule. The VIC
tory over Arab is likely 10 hep the
prophet, as defeated expectations will Turn
toward him, and the disappointed and con-
quered soldiers would be likely to take his
side should he succeed in fighting his way,
by the aid of his Arab followers, into
Egypt With such a leader no respect
would be paid TO the Suez canal, and the
English would have a more formidable
enemy to meet than the one they have just
conquered, and one against whom Moham-
medan troops from India could not safely
be brought. AT present the danger is dis
tant, but the position of Khartoum at IL e
junction of the rivers gives it great straget-
ical importance. The troops OF the prophet
are preparing to invest Khartoum, but the
of the Egyptian garrison
at that point thinks that he csn
hold out until assistance, now preparing
10 Egypt, comes to his relief. Should the
nder's expectation prove mistaken, and
Imam Mahdi become master of Khar-
toum, and SO master of the approaches TO the
upper Mile, which would pour out men and
provisions for him, it can be seen that he
would be formidable opponent, against
whom Egypt alone could probably do little.
The Suez canal, however, and ether inter-
ests have raised up new protectors TO Egypt,
and when Mohammed prophesied of the
victories of his great successor he knew
nothing of Krupp cannon, dynamite, rail
roads or telegraph wires. The new prophet
has, however, considerable powers of mis-
chief in his hands, and is likely to afford
much matter for the telegraph 10 report dur
inc some months 10 come.