The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-03
THE MAHDI.
From the London DAILY News.


Like his great predecessor, the
Mahdi has the power of attracting
men to his cause, and of keeping them
far more difficult task.
He does not cast off men who have
served him. Among his most trusted
friends and companions are the first
deciples who gathered round him in
the beginning of his extraordinary
career, and the select body of fanatics
who constantly attend him are
Differed chiefly by two thou
sand Dongalowi, mostly relatives
and family connections of his
own. This circumstance, no doubt,
tends to solidify the military organi-
Zation on which the Mahdi must con-
tinue to rely, and MAKE him more in
dependent than otherwise he might
be of the somewhat tickle allegiance
of the Bedouin shelkins. -Four caliphs
form the supreme cabinet, or council
of state, as in the case of Mohammed.
In order to make the resemblance the
more striking, each of the new Ca
hphs has taken the name of one of the
original four aud modestly dropped
bis own. The new champion of Is
lam is a fighting prophet; just the
kind of man to appeal to the imagin-
ations and win the affections of the
wild men of the desert. He takes
part in all the battles, and does not
spare his own person. There is re-
port current that in the fight with
Hicks army the Mahdi received
sword cut acro-s the forehead which
divided the brass cap which he wears
under his turban and inflicted an ugly
wound. For some time after the bat
tie he did not appear in public-not
even attending the customary public
prayers on Friday. His lieutenantS
gave out that he had retired from the
world to commune with Allah, but
there is d SUSPECT III that his wound
had more to do with his temporary
retirement than had his prayers. If
this story of the wound be well
founded, and it is here generally be-
lieved, it would account for the eX-
traordinary inaction of the Maddi's
forces since the defeat of Gen. Hicks.
On the occasion of his public visits to
the mosques Monhammed Ahmed
rides a beautiful Arab
horse, and by his side
hangs a sword which is no idle orna-
ment. His dress is caftan similar in
shape to that worn by other Moham-
medan priests, but it is variegated in
color and richly ornamented. On his
head is brass cap covered by white
turban, surmounted by plume of os-
trich feathers. There is one charact-
eristeristic of the new prophet which
will secure him friends in England.
He is total abstinence man of the
pureSt water. With the demon of
drunkenness he wages fierce and re-
lentlesS war. Compared to this Arab
reformer even Sir Wllfred Lawson
must be regarded as reckless tippler.
Not alone are wine and all sorts of
spirituous liquors forbidden, but even
the more harmless enjoyments of to-
bacco and coffee are anathema, and
severe penalties are inflicted on any
] one discovered using the for
hidden luxuries. Notwithstanding
: these severe ordinances, l fear it is
certain that large number of the
faithful do indulge in the use of araki
and other soul-destroying beverages,
| for it came under my personal obSer-
walton that large quantities of ardent
spirits were forwarded within the
past week to be sold to rebels in ex-
change for their gums and feathers.
IlOWOFoi, III OUc1u OllO PuO1lO ooAO VI
use of these luxuries is strictly for
hidden, and any infringement severe
ly punish d. The Mahdi's move
ment is in character distinctly
puritanlcal. War is waged
against all the vices and
effemiDacies which di Thrush the
Turkish Pasha rule. Thus. the faith
full must not wear red shoes, nor
clothe themselves in costly gam n's.
Nor are they permitted To sleep on
rich carpets or other Turkish abrni-
nations. but must content themselves
with mats woven from the leaves OF
the palm when lndulg ng in slumber.
Any infringement of this rule leads
TO the confiscation of the forbidden
article of luxury and the punishment
of the unfortunate svbaIite. This
rule is enforced with considerable rig
or, as much, it is alleged. for the sake
of plumber as from religious motives,
because the followers of the Mahdi
make no scruple of selling the confis-
Gated articles in some distant town or
village and pocketing the proceeds Of
the sale.