The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-12-08


Ell Mahdi's father was the founder of a
sect of semi religious fraternities which
seem destined to cover the whole of
North Africa with web of MosIem Free
masonry. His name was Mohammed, and
persons who have seen the younger re-
member that his right hand reached as
far as his knee, thus fulfilling all the re-
Quirements of the prophecy. FL Mahdi
came forth from his retirement and sta
toned himself on the Island Of Abba. in
| the White Nile. lie absolved his follow
ers from all allegiance to earthly poten-
tates, aid announced himself as the sue
cessor of Mohammed. This involved
their refusal to pay tribute.
The first active rebellion broke out on
tue 18th Of August, 1881, at the Island
of Abba. On this occasion, thanks to
the incredible stupidity of the officer in
command, the Egyptian troops who were
sent to arrest the Mahdi not only failed
in their object, but lost 100 men. After
this the Mahdi left his home on the
Island of Abba and crossed the White Nile
into Kordofan. During the next 10 months
arrest the False Prophet, but, owing to
bad management and the employment of
insufficient forces, always with the same
re.ult-complete failure. During this
time the Egyptians have lost at one place
or another l, 200 men and an equal num-
Der of rifles. Finding that the insurrec-
ton was spreading rapidly it was at
length judged necessary to make a Sc.
rious effort. Accordingly, in the begin
ming of June, 1882. Yusef Pasha left
Fashoda at the head Of 4, 400 men, with
four mountain guns and rocket, for
| Ghebel Gadir, where Mohammed Ach-
met was then residing. On the way he
met the rebels, and, thanks to his neglect
of the most elementary rules of warfare,
he was completely defeated, with the loss
Of 1900 men and al his guns. Of the 500
men who escaped at the time the greater
part were subsequently captured and sold
into slavery. City after city capitulated
to the False Prophet, the greatest of his
successes being the capture of Ell Obeid.
When Ell Mahdi, the False Prophet,
appeared in the Soudan, announcing his
divine mission after the fashion of Mo-
BANNED, travellers in that country were
a unit in expressing the belief that the
Egyptian campaign of Sir Garnet WOlse
ley would be child play compared with
the religious uprising in the Valley
of the White Nile. The reasons for this
belief were very simple: aud they nave
been justified by the overwhelming de-
feat of Hicks Pasha. The disaffection
and restlessness among the Arab tribes
date back many years, and may be said
to have begun when KhartOum was
founded by Mohammed Ali as military
post; and being at the confluence Of the
Blue and White Niles, was 4 strategic
point commanding the water courses to
Central Africa. This city, the largest in
Northern Central A frica, contains mix
ed population of 10000, embracing as
goddess a set of ruffians of all shades of
color, moral and physical, as were ever
brought together.
Khartoum became not only the capital
of the slave trade, but was also the penal
colony where murderers, highwaymen
and every species of scoundrel-Turkish,
Frank, Egyptian, Arab and native
were permitted to roam at will, and often
ploy. Khartoum became the seat of
central authority of all that region be-
tween Berber and the equatorial lakes,
with indefinite boundaries on the west
and South. This whole tract was divided
into nine provinces, with separate gov
ernor for each province, these various
territorial divisions having the supreme
head in the governor-general at Khar-
toum, post second only in authority
and emoluments to that of the Khedive
himself.
THE FIELD OF OPERATIONS.
The region now in successful rebellion
extends from the first cataract of the
Nile, in about latitude "a degrees, to the
equator. This whole region of Northern
and Eastern Africa, with the exception
Of Abyssinia, is nothing but desert,
| unbroken by mountain ranges, although
there are lofty hills on the camel route
from Berber to Suakin. The only Guilt
| walton is found on the banks of the Main
Nile, the Blue and White Niles and the
Atbora, all making up the grand Nile
system. The general elevation of this
region along the valley of the White Nile
is about 300 feet above the sea. As in
Lower Egypt, cultivation is controlled
during the dry season by "siadofs" and
"sikeahs," which are contrivances Ope-
rated by man and cattle power for raising
water from the river and spreading it
over the seeded surface. This celebrated
area never extends more than mile from
the river bank on either side, and often
not that distance. Beyond in each direc-
ton all is desolation. Thus the actual
supplies grown in this part of the Soudan
barely suffice to nourish the population,
and when force like that of Hicks Pasha
gets away from city like Khartoum it
is no wonder that there are famine, thirst
and death. The Bedouins, on the con.
trary, are an amazing people to live and
thrive on next to nothing. Their food is
dates and their drink cancels milk, and
occasionally some durah (corn) pulver-
lied. But the Egyptians could never live
a week on such diet. The deserts afford
some game, but not of very savory
quality. Gazelles, wild asses, grouse and
snipe are occasionally shot, but even
these do not wander far from the water
courses.
One line of travel from the Soudan te
Lower Egypt is by disembarking at Sua
kin, on the Red sea, and making came
journey of 20 days to Berber, when the
journey to Khartoum is made by river il
small steamers put afoat by the Egyp
tian government. The most recent &C.
counts concur in saying, however, that
the rebel tribes are lowering about Sua
kin, if they have not actually occupied
the city. This seaport is the only import
ant Egyptian harbor on the Red sea, and
it is quite tlourishing town, the largest
steamers being able to anchor in its wa.
tiers. The second route to lower Egypt
lies across The Arabian Desert from Aboo-