The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-12-14
THE TROUBLE IN EGYPT.
The War Of the False Prophet.
KHARTouM AS A STRATEGIC poiN1

.H +. Ia
El Mehdi, the false prophet, Is of humble
origin and began life as ship carpenter. He
emigrated from Dongola TO Senaar, and
throwing away his chisel and mallet became
public reader of the Koran. As be was
endowed with an unusual degree of elo.
quence, be within . comparatively short time
became the ideal Of small but very pious
and credulous congregation. Gradually as
his power with the masses increased and his
fame spread he assumed the rank of asheikn,
and finally launched on his checkered ca
reer as prophet. Like the founder of the
Moslem creed, he Is q man of extraordinary
imaginative powers, joined to great selfwi
and dissimulation. Enthusiasm among his
followers aud their faith In his divine mis-
sion rose to such pitch that they were
ready at signal from him to throw away
their lives. At this time, too, he began 10
utter "prophecies.n According to one of
these he was to be proclaimed prophet and
ruler of the whole Soudan on Nov. II, 1882,
and when be formerly and solemnly an
nounced that Allah had definitely chosen
him to be his prophet, his mighty following
at once organized kind of court and royal
attendance upon his august person. At this
critical period the Egyptian government be-
gan to interfere with his lively proceedings.
The governor of the Soudan sent out troops
to arrest FL Mehdi, but they were easily put
to flight and slaughtered by his followers.
The latter now began to organize themselves
and to arm and equip in regular military
style. Having accomplished this, the false
prophet put himself at their head and war
Of conquest began, which has lasted with
several intermissions and with varying for
tunes 10 the present day. The armies sent
out against the pretender met defeat occa-
sionally or achieved victories. In the sum-
mer and fall Of last year hostilities were At
their liveliest. Khartoum and El Obeid, the
chief points at the seat Of war, were held
now by the Egyptian troops, and then again
by the rebels; taken by storm, leaving 10000
corpses In the trenches In and around the
strongly fortified place, two brothers of the
prophet among them. Up to that time the
total losses of the rebels were estimated at
10000. Since that time, though, Ell Mehdi
again collected his forces, and with innumer-
able additions from all parts OF Mohamme-
dan Africa, he has waged new, fierce and
relentless war against all the armies sent 10
destroy him and his followers.
Khartoum, which has been placed In inn.
minent danger by the successes of the false
prophet, is an important city of some 40 1000
Inhabitants, made up Of Berbers, Soudan ne
groes, Bisbareen and other Arabs, Feliaheen
from Lower Egypt, and Q sprinkling of Nu-
bians and the the wandering tribes OF Darfur
and other lands TO the west and south. The
city is 900 miles In direct line from Cairo
and about 900 miles following the winding
of the Nile. The town Is the principal place
in that region, and is situated among 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 posi-.
tion at the union of the two main branches
of the Egyptian river which gives Khartoum
its strategical Importance, and made il long
the headquarters of the slave trade in Upper
Egypt. For some years past the telegraph
extended as far south as this The city has
been threatened by the false prophet since
October of last year, and preparations we're
made to receive him by throwing up forts
and digging q ditch around the town. The
majority of the inhabitants of the city sym
pathize with the rebels, and have been ready
to turn upon the Egyptians and receive the
false prophet with open arms. The direct
route of communication with the city Is, of
course, up the Nile, but this route Is beset
with great difficulties. Ashort cut is taken
across the desert, but on one portion Of this
route there Is q stretch of one hundred miles
where water can be obtained In only one
place, and even there 1t is SO impregnated
with salt as TO be undrinkable by man, and
only endurable to the tough stomach Of the
camel. The most available route from
Lower Egypt to Khartoum is by Saukim, q
port on the Red Sea, where desert road ,2SS
miles long, leads to Berber, from which point
the navigation Of the Nile up to Khartoum Is
unobstructed. Our dispatches indicate that
the Egyptian government will attempt to
maintain communication with the city by
the Berber. .Suakim route.