The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-24
THE ARAB REVOLT.
How she Mahdl Began iis War on the Egyp'
tan Government

the false prophet OF Soudan the following
from the Herald will be read with inter-
est:
Five years ago the Arab chief, now
known as FL Mahdi, who was petty
prince OF one OF the tribes below kordo-
ian, withdrew himself from his followers
and became a hermit. thus seeking to in
volye his very existence in mystery. This
proceeding at once increased his fame.
From Zaouia TO Zaouia OF the Senoussia.
and consequently from Mecca to Morocco,
the attention az the faithful was assiduous-
~ called TO the following prophecy:
"0n the 1st of the month ofEMobarrem,
in the year 1900 (November ~, 1922, viii
appear FL Mahdi. OF Messiah. lie will be
exactly forty years of age, and OF noble
bearing. one arm will he longer than the
other. His fathers name will be Moham-
med and his mothers name Fatima, and he
viii be hidden for time prior to his man.
ifestation."
FL Mahdi's father was the founder OF a
sect OF Scmi-religiOus iraternities which
seem destined 10 cover the whole OF North
Africa with a web Of Moslem Freemasonry.
His name WAS Mohammed, and persons
who bave seen the younger remember that
his right hand reached as far a. his knee.
prophecy. FL Mahdi came forth from his
retirement and stationed himself on the
Island Of Abba, in the White Nile. He
ahsolyed his followers from all allegiance
10 earthly potentaicS, and announced him.
self as the successor OF Mohammed. This
involved their refusal TO pay tribute.
TIE REBELLION.
The first active rebellion broke out on
the 18th 81 August, 1881, at the Island OF
Abba. On this occasion, thanks 10 the IN
credible stupidity OF the officer in com
mand, 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
Kordoian. During the next ten months
repeated attempts were made TO arrest the
False Prophet, but, owing 10 bad manage
ment and the employment OF insufficient
forces, always with the same Tesult-com-
piete failure. During this time the Egyp-
tians have lost at one place or another
1900 men and an equal number OF rifles.
Finding that the lnsurrectiOn was spread
ing rapidly. il was at length Judged neees-
sary TO make a serious effort. Accordingly,
in the beginning OF June, 1882, luSef
Pashs left Fashoda at the head OF AGO
men, with four mountain guns and 4
rocket. for Ghebel Gadir, where Moham-
med Achmct 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 5000 men and all his guns. OF
the 500 men who escaped at the time, the
greater part were subsequently captured
and sold into slavery. City after city capt.
ulated 10 the False Prophet, the greatest OF
his successes being the capture OF FL
Obeid.
CAUSES OF THE Discomfort.
When FL Mahdi, the False Prophet. ap-
reared i'm the Soudan. announcing his di-
vine mission after the fashion OF No
BANNED, travellers in that country were a
INIT i'm expressing the belief that the Egyp-
tisn campaign OF Sir Garnet Wolseley
would be cbild's play compared with the
religious uprising in the Valley OF The
White Nile The reasons for this belief were
very simple. and they have been justified by
the overwhelming defeat OF Hicks Pasha.
The disafiection and restlessneSs among
the Arab tribes date back many years, and
NAV be said 10 have begun when Khartoum
was founded by Mohammed ALI rs militia
~ post: and being at the confluence OF the
Blue and White Niles was a strategic point
commanding the water-courses to Central
Africa. This city, the largest in Northern
Central Africa. contains "a mixed popula-
ton of 10000, embracing rs Goddess set
OF ruffians Of all shades OF color. moral
and physical. As were ever brought to-
gether.
THE CAPITAL. OF THE SLAVE TRADE.
Khartom 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 obtain
high place in the Government employ.
Kbartoum became the seat OF central au-
tbority OF all that region between BerDer
and the equatorial lakes, with lnGennite
boundaries on the west and south. THIS
whole tract was divided into nine pro-
yinces. with separate governor for each
province. these various territorial divisions
having the supreme head in the Governor
General at Khartoum, post second only
In authority and emoluments TO that OF the
Khedive himself. II is this official, repre-
scented in the various persons holding
the place, who is more 10 blame FOR the
present state OF affairs in the S0udan than
can be assigned to any other source.
TIE FIELD OF OPERATIONS.
The region now in successful rebellion
extends from the first cataract OF the Nile,
in about lattude "A degrees, to the Equa-
tor. This whole region Of Northern and
Eastern Africa, with the exception of
Abyssinia, is nothing but a desert, un-
broken by mountain ranges, although there
are lofty hills on the camel route from Ber-
Der 10 Suakin. The only cultivation is
found on the banks Of the Main Nile, the
Blue and White Niles, and the Atbora, all
making I'D the grand Nile system. The
general elevation of this region along the
valley OF the White Nile is about 800 feet
above the sea. As in Lower Egypt, cult-
walton is controlled during the dry season
by "shadofs" and d" sikeahs," which are
contriyances operated by man and cattle
mower for raising water from the river and
Spreading II over the seeded surface. This
celebrated area never extends more than a
mile from the river bank on either SIDE,
and often not that distance. Beyond in
each direction all is desolation. Thus the
actual supplies grown in this part OF
the Soudan barely suffice TO nourish the
population, and when a force like that OF
Hicks Pasha gets away from city like
Khartoum il is no wonder that there are
famine. thirst, and death. The BedOuins,
on the contrary. are an amazing people 10
live and thrive on next to nothing. Ihelr
food Is dates and their drink camePs mix,
and occasionally some durah CORN pull
yerized. But the Egyptians could never
live week on such a diet. The deserts
afford some game, but not OF very savory
Il