Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-07

From the London Daily News.
Like his great predecessor. the Mahdi has the
power of attracting men to his cause and of keep
ing them steadfast-a far more difficult task.
he does not cast off men who have served him.
Among his most trusted friends and companions
are the first disciples who gathered round him in
the beginning of his extraordinary career, and
the select body of fanatics who constantly at
tend him are Differed chiefly by 1900 DOngalo-
WI, mostly relatives and family connections Ofhis
own. This circumstance no doubt tends to So
iidify the military organization OH which the
Mahdl must continue to rely. and makes him
more independent than otherwise he might
be Of the somewhat tickle allegiance of the Be-
douin sheiks. Four Caliphs form the supreme
cabinet or council of state, rs in the case OF
Mohammed. In order to make the resemblance
the more striking each of the new caliphs has
taken the name OF one of the original four and
modesty dropped his own. The new champion
OF Islam Is a fighting prophet, just the kind Of
man to appeal to the magnatiOns 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 report current that
In the fight with Hicks army the Mahdi received
q sword-cut across the forehead which divided
the brass cap which he wears under his turban
and inflicted an ugly wound. For some time
after the battle he did not appear in public-not
even attending the customary public PRAYERS on
Friday. His lieutenants gave ont that he had
retired from the world to commune with Allah.
but there is d shrcwd suspicion that his wound
had more to do with his temporary retire
ment than had his prayers. If this story
of the wound be we'll founded, and it is
here generally believed 1t would account
for the extraordinary inactiOn of the NAH
dis forces since the defeat Of Gen. Hicks.
On the occasions OF his public visits to the
mosques MOhammed Ahmed rides beautiful
Arab horse, and by his side hangs sword
which Is no idle ornament. His dress is a caf-
tan similar in shape to that worn by other Mo-
hammedan priests, but it is variegated in color
and richly ornamented. On his head is brass
cap covered by white turban, surmOunted by
plume Of ostrich feathers. There is one charac-
teristic OF the new prophet which will secure
him friends in England. He is total absti-
nence man of the purest water. With the demon
OF drunkenness he wages fierce and relentless
war. Compared to this Arab reformer even Sir
Niifrid Lawson must be regarded as a reckless
ttppler Not alone are wine and all sorts of
spirituouS liquors forbidden, but even the more
harmless enjOyments Of tobacco and coffee are
anathesa and severe penalties are inflicted on
any one discovered using the forbidden lux
uries. Notwithstanding these severe ordi-
nances, fear 1t is certain that large number
OF the faithful do indulge In the use of araka
and other sOul-destrOyng beverages, for
II came under my personal observation that
large quantities OF ardent spirits were forwarded
within the past few weeks to be sold to rebels
in exchange for their guns and feathers. How
ever, in Obeid the public sale or use of these
luxuries is strictly forbidden and any infringe
ment severely punished. The Mahdfs movement
Is in character distinctly puritanical. War is
waged against all the vices and effeminacies
which distinguish the Turkish Basha rule. Thus.
the faithful must not wear red shoes nor clothe
themselves In costly garments Nor are they
permitted to sleep on rich carpets or other Turk
ish abominatlOns but must content themselves
with mats woven from the leaves Of the palm
Inducing Slnmbpr inf ont
OF this rule leads to tho eoniscation of the for
hidden article OF luxury and the punishment Of
| the unfortunate sybarte. This rule is enforced
with considerable rigor, as much, it il alleged
| Tor the sake Of plumber as from religious mo-
| tives, because the followers Of the Mahdi make
no scruple of selling the conflscated articles in
some distant town or village and pocketing the
proceeds of the sale.