The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-03-26
Daluaiialr 6azettr,
WEpNEspAY, MARCH %. lssl.
The False Prophet.

The following is biography Of the Mahdi,
which was drawn up by Lieut.. Colonel Stewart
at the beginning of the present year:-Mo-
named Achmei, the Mahdi, is a Dongolawi, or
native Of the province of Dongola. His grand
father was called Fahil and lived on the island
of Naft Arti (Arti-Dongolaw for "island')
This island lies east of and opposite to 0rdi,
the native name for the capital of Dongola.
His father was Abdullahi, by trade a carpen-
ter. In 1852 this man left and went 10 Shindi,
a town on the line, south of Berber. AT that
time his family consisted Of three sons and
one daughter, called respectively Mahomed,
Hamid, Mohamed Achmet 1.-THE Mahdi, and
Nur-el-Sham (Light of Syria.) At Shindi
another son was born, called Abdullali. AS
boy Mohamed Achmet was apprentieed 10
Shareholder, his uncle, boatman residing
at Shakabeh, an island opposite Senaar. Hav-
ing one day received beating from his uncle,
he ran away to Khartoum, and joined the free
school or "Medressu" of faki Qearned nan,
head of sect of derTishes,) who resided at
Hoghali, a village east of and close to Khar-
toum. This school is attached to the tomb of
Sheikh Hoghali, the patron saint of Khartoum,
and who is greatly revered by the inhabitants
Of that town and district. The sheikh of this
tomb or shrine, although lie keeps a free
school and feeds the poor, derives handsome
revenue from the gifts of the pious. He claims
to be descendant of the original Hoghali, and
through him Of Mahomet. Here he remained
for some time studying religion, the tenets of
his sheikh, etc., but did not make much pro-
gross in the more worldly accomplishments of
reading and writing. After time he left and
went to Berber, where lie joined another free
school kept by Sheikh Ghubush, at village
of that name nearly opposite TO Mekherref
(Berber.) This school is also attached to a
shrine greatly venerated by the natives. Here
Mahumed Achmet remained six months COM
pleting his religious education. Thence he
went to Araqup (Tamarind Tree) village,
south of Kama. Here in 1870 he became a
disciple OF another faki-Sheikh Nur- el-Daim
Continuous Lightly Nur-el-Daim subse-
quently ordained him a sheikh or faki, and he
then left to take up his home in the Island OF
| Abba, near Kama, OIL the White Nile. Here he
began by making subterranean excavation
! (khaliva- retreat) into which he made prac-
| tice of retiring TO repeat for hours one of the
| names of the Deity, and accompanied by fast
ing, incense burning and prayers. His fame
and sanctity by degrees spread far and wide
| and Mohamed Achmet became wealthy, col
lected disciples, and married several wives
| all OF whom he was careful to select from
among the daughters Of the most Influential
Baggara Sheikhs (Baggara-tribes owning
cattle and horses) and other notables. II
keep within the legalized number (four,) h(
was in the habit of diyorcing the surplus ant
taking them oil again according TO his fancy
About the end Of May, 1881. he began TO writ,
| 10 his brother fakis religious chiefs,) and t
teach that he was the Mahdi foretold by Ma.
homet, and that he had a divine Mission 10 re.
form Islam, to establish an universal equality
an universal law, and universal religion, ant
community of goods ("beyl-ul-lnal;" alst
that all who did not believe in him should b,
destroyed, he they Christian, Mohammedan
or Pagan. Among others he wrote TO Ma
homet Saleh, a very learned and Influential
faki Of DongOla, directing him to collect hi
dervishes followers and friends and TO joil
him at Abba This sheikh, instead of comply
ing with his request, informed the government
declaring the man must be mad. This infor
nation, along with that collected from othe
quarters, alarmed his excellency Reouf Pasha
and the result was the expedition of Angus
3, 1881. In person the Mahdi is tall, slim
with black beard and light brown complex
ion. Like most Dongolawis, lie reads an
writes with difficulty He is local head of til
Gheelan or Kadridge order of dervishes,
school originated by Abdul Kader-el -Ghul
ami, whose tomb is | believe, at BagdaC
Judging from his conduct of affairs and policy
| should say he had considerable natural abil
ity. The manner in which he has managed I
merge the usually discordant tribes togethC
denotes great tact He had probably bee
preparing the movement for some time bacl
-HdckGv Standard