The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-07-08
THE FAIL Of Kusa1oum.
And All Of Egyptian soudan In the Hands Of III
Prophet.

Ana All 0f Egyptian s0uddn IN the hAnus ot the
Prophet.
From the New or.cans Tlmcs- Democrat.
The third renort Of the fall Of Khar-
-. ID ,,..-,.,.,,,x. :, oa....t o..
.o""'' nv" '"o O"P'",o VI 'e"''" 'o
don, seems 10 De wellioundedi ana the
Arabs appear to have acted with I'M
common medication An tho o,bor m
No'''.'' ,,.. - -,
nors hpout uhe ueiec'Ioh oi powerful
tribes from the Mahdi, the successes or
rival Mahdis. and the Winning OF the
pr,,h.,,s no.or.ro moro 90 ioss M
~"
'rustWor'hy' OF 10 - taken cum sraho
sails. The Mahdi Is now virtually mas
ter of the whole Eeyptian Soudan: and
Ehar,o,,,, ~, call. In hts h.nds no
""",'o"'" w ',"Y ~ "a .""'' "'
hoIds the Key 10 the ehiire African com
merce OF Egypt. Rivals he may have.
but these nre NOT likely 10 stand In his
-. -. 81 a., ..n,.,.I :, .,.,,.
WY 'o"E' W." '"o io'"H"' VI 'ei'"'"
tribes 10 pay MN triDute Is no guarantee
of their purpose TO take up arms
against him. These nomads MAYER nav
,r,h,,, ,,,,,a.. aa,.,.i,.,, A., a.
",'"'o "''ese oo"Pene" =" w so' VI
when stimulated to join their forces anc
resources with those of n religious leader
cess Is In the Moslem world the most
powerful proof of divine inspiration, the
spiritual power Of Mohammed Ahmed is
continually augumenting, and the recog-
milton of his divine claims daily extend
ing. II the great Mohammedan univer-
sity Of El-Hazar has pronounced In his
favor, the result will be an immense In
crease in his influence.
Khartoum, situated at the junction Of
the White and the Blue Nile rivers, has
been from the time Of Its foundation the
great market for European products sent
to the Soudan-the general emporium
for all Nubia, Senaar, kordofan, Oar
four, Waday. 1t has also been the CEN
tire oil the slave trade, even during the
tyrannical rule OF Egyptian pashas, while
the residence of the Soudanese Governor
General. Ivory, cotton, grain, were also
famous In Its markets by reason of their
plenty and fine quality. One of the
greatest sources OF Egyptian revenue Is
thus In the Mahdis hands; and IL VIII
depend altogether upon English policy
whether the great trade Will be inter-
rupted or destroyed, and the great city
abandoned in the desolation Of sands
which stretch beyond II.
IL certainly looks us though diplomacy
VIII be now needed rather than force.
10 wrest the whole Soudan from the
Mahdi Is out OF the question; and even
WIN hnartouin IN Engnsh hands conf
municatlon with the further south VIII
be impossible unless the Prophet pleases.
TO enter the country and gain num-
per OF bloody victories over the Mos
lens must be for England a mere
question OF money. But to hold
the conquered territory is very differ
ent. khartoum could not be long
successfully garrisoned with British
troops The few Europeans who do
business there manage TO keep them
selves alive chiefly by sulphate OF qui-
nine; ana even when by acclimation
ana experience they are able TO fight oil
the levers that ravage even the native
population. their lives are brief. Liver
disease ana That deDile enervation to
when europeans In Africa so generally
IAN victims are prevailing disorders in
khartoum; and epidemics Of singular
and deadly fevers not known In temper
ate latitudes WISH the city at Intervals
10 sweep away even the blacks Them
selves. Every year from 5000 to 1000
inhaDltants are SAID 10 be carried oil by
various pestilential diseases. khartoum
Is, therefore, scarcely lifted for British
garrison, or even Tor indian troops; and
native mercenaries can scarcely be re-
lieu upon. III would cost an enormous
sum 10 hold III ana to hold 1t at all,
whiie the Soudanese traffic Is cut OIL
IRON tne CITY by war, were indeed I'M
profitable.
Ihere was no massacre, and there was
proDaDly no mistake. AT the last mo-
meht IL Is nkeiy that Gordon either saw
tne inpossiDiiity OF a successful strug-
gle, OF iound himself deserted by his
Ionowe5s, me Mahdi appears to nave
ADMIRED MS pluck ana respected his re-