Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-11

something About the Mysterious Fig.
ure That We Hear OF i'm the Egyptian
Dispatches.
From the London Daily News.

From the London Daily News.
The news from Egypt has lately been very
quiet about the False Prophet Of the Soudan, as
he is called. The Egyptians themselves had no
eyes for events lately, except those things which
were taking place so much nearer their own
doors, and it is only now that they are able to
look about and see what is going on in the more
out-of-the-way parts of their own country. The
False Prophet, it would seem, has not been Idle;
while Arab has been suffering defeat rumor has
it that the False Prophet has been achieving
victory and staying many thousands of his
foes He is evidently playing for high stake;
this is clear from the name which, II we
trust the telegram, he has assumed
for himself He claims to be the Imam
Mahdl, or the last prophet Allah will send to
conquer the enemies or Islam and rule supreme
over the world. To such a person all Moham-
medans would kneel and serve. We're he to APP
pear In this character as cOnquerer at Cairo
the eclipse of Arab, as we'll as of the Khedive,
would be complete. The Sultan himself would
cease to think of the Caliphate in the presence
OF such pOtentate and representative of Allah
on earth. The Imam Mahdi is to come accord
ing to Mohammedan belief, accompanied with
great signs and wonders, and he will appear
shortly before the Judgment Day. He comes on
white horse and at the head of an army all
mounted on white horses. In this there is
1lidillleSt trace Vi scripture IDEAS, WHICH Cne
MOhammedans have followed, and where the
Hebrew Messianic notions may be traced 1t
bears, at the same time, strong resemblance to
the .Kalk Avatar of the Hindus which is
to make its appearance on white
horse, and when the white horse stamps
Its 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
many pretenders to this character in the east;
and the Indian bazaars during the mutiny often
had wondrous tales of his appearance leading
his army of white horses. The Imam Madhi
must be visible ruler with power and vic tory
on his side, and if the present pretender at
Khartoum manages to spread the report thathe
Is killing his enemies by the thousands he NAV
be accepted most willingly by the Moslems
Even the defeat of Arab. who claimed 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 Pc
cuar result come to pass.it may give our troops
another campaign in Egypt, for the new Imam
Is not likely to give any guarantees about such
trife as the Suez Canal. At present he is a
long way off. khartOum, of which he Is said to
be absolute master, Is about 500 miles in a direct
line from Cairo, andperhaps 1000 miles follow
ing the winding Of the Nile. The town is the
principal place in that region and is stu
ated 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-el-AvIad, or the White Nile. 1t is this
position at the union or the two main branches
Of the Egyptian river which gives KhartOum its
strateeical Importance and made it long the
headquarters Of the slave trade in Upper
Egypt. For some years past the telegraph
extended as far south as this, and travel
ers who visit the place are entertained there
by the ruling pasha in style reminding them
OF Paris-at least those who have reached Khar-
tOum after travelling in the desert and barbarOus
countries around say that 1t seems like Paris to
dine with the governor of khart0um. who pro-
duces knives and forks cut-gass and silver,
and menu Of fish, meat and game, and con-
versation carried on in French. A dance of
GewaZi or Match girls OF the locality when cigar
cites are being smoked afterwards. may Just
remind them that they are not dining in a cafe
on the BOulevards. The Imam Maidi. instead
Oh accepting these ciyties and making believe
he was in Paris. is reported to have killed Abdul
kadr, the governor of the place. to have occu-
pied it. and is getting his Nubian troops into
disciplined condition, in order, no doubt, to
carry on his conquests and keep up the charac-
ter he has assumed.