, 1884-06-28

scattered villages, and in fact take by force
whatever they wished, without oven a
thought OF paying for it This high-handed
course they were able to pursue, because they
were usually accompanied by several hun
bred retainers, armed with guns, against
whom the sparse Arab villages were unable
to defend themselves. Then these unfortu-
nate people were not always quite certain
whether tho merchants were plundering on
their own account or on the part Of the gov
eminent, a doubt which In many Instances
prevented them resisting their ~despoilera. 1t
was the deep and bitter resentment caused
by this cruel oppression which gave the
mehdi his great chance, and by combining
political, social, and religious sentiment, he
has prepared a movement against which the
influence Of Cairo, Constantinople and Mecca
is powerless.
HIS FOLLOWERS DEVOTION.
On the occasions of his public visits to the
mosques Mohammed Ahmed rides a beauti-
full Arab horse, and by his side hangs a
sword which is no idle ornament. His dress
is n caftan similar in shape to that worn by
other NJ hRmInedan priests, but it is varie-
gated in color and richly ornamental. On his
head Is a brass cap covered by a white tur-
ban, surmounted by a plume of ostrich
feathers. At the hour appointed for public
prayers, his followers assemble in front of
tue Moudirieh armed with their spears,
SWORDS, and shields, and when he mounts his
horse this vast armed multitude surround
HIM in a dense mass, and he Is 50 to say.
carried to the MOSQUE in this human
torrent On his way back he Is escorted
with the same care and ceremony. This Gus
tom is no doubt a precaution, and perhaps
not an unnecessary one. 1t augurs strong
devotion on the mehdi's followers, and proves
that he has known how to gain their affec-
ton as well as their obedience. There is one
characteristic Of the new prophet which will
secure him friends in England. He Is a total
abstinence man of the purest water. With
the demon of drunkenness he wages fierce
and relentless war. Compared to this Arab
reformer even Sir Wilfrid Lawson must DO
regarded rs a reckless tippler. Not alone are
wine and all sorts OF spirituous liquors forbid
den, but even the more harmless eujoyInent5
OF tobacco and coff- Q are anathsml, and
severe penalties inflicted on any one discov-
sred using the forbidden luxuries.
THE BLACK MANS PROPHET.
The new champion OF Islam is a fighting
prophet; just the kind Of mar to appeal to
the i-maGinations and win the affections of
the wild men of the dc sert. He takes part
in all the battles, and does not spare his own
person. There is a report current that in the
dght with Hicks army the mehdi received a
sword cut across the forehead which divided
the brass cap which he wears under his tur-
ban, and inflicted an ugly wound. For some
time after the battle he did not appear in
public mot even attending the customary
public prayers on Friday. His lieutenants
gave out that he had retired from the world
to with Allah, but there is a
shrewd suspicion that his wound had more to
do with his temporary retirement than lind
his prayers. II this story of the wound be
we'll founded, and it is here generally be-
lieved, it would account for the extraordi-
nary i~naction of the mehdi's forces since tns
defeat Of Gen. Hicks.
Mohammed Ahmed is the black mans
prophet, and the black man is resolved that
the white face shall not come into Africa as
n master-not, at least. il the black man can
help it. This race antagonism is strength
ened and deepened by religious sentiment.
Those of the black race who nave any re-
ligion at all are Moslems, and they view
with natural apprehension the interference
Of Christian states in the government of
Egypt. 1t is the feeling that the khedive il
under the control OF the infidels that has de-
prived his government of all moral influence
IN the Soudan, and which is gradu-
ally destroying its authority over
Egypt proper. The mehdi understands this,
and will mako no compromise nor enter into
any relations either with the khedive or any
other government tainted with infidelity.
Gordon Pasha's idea of bribing him with an
acknowledgement OF his position as prince Of
kordofan, was a clever move, and had Mo-
damned Ahmed made the mistake Of accept
ing it his influence would have Immediately
begun to decline. Mohammed Ahmed is,
however, a shrewder person than those who
talk OF him as a savage imagine. When lie
read Gordon Pasha's letter it is commonly re-
ported that he burned it publicly and sent
word that "his mission came from God, and
lid not need titles. II Gordon Pasha felt him
elf strong and would wait a little, he, Mo.
BANNED Ahmed, would come to Khartoum."