Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1884-06-21

education. as 1t is UNDERSTOOD III Ihe
east; that is, he reads and wr ties
and il well versed in the koran ana
rommcntato rs. Some Catholic
priests who have met him personals
" state that he is by no mcans
vulgar lmpostor, but, on the contra
nv. impressed them as a man thor-
oughly convinced of thedivine ma
ture of his mission and wholly de-
voted to carry out the religious re-
forms which he claims he has been
sent TO effect. Among the mass
who are sunk in ignorance, Moham-
med Ahmed is regarded as pro-
phev whom it is sinful to resist.
Because he comes AS prophet the
people fear to disobey him lest they
should expose themselves to the
divine vengeance.
Mohammed Ahmed's life is sim>
pie in the extreme. He indu ges
in none of the luXuries or vanities
of life, except, perhaps, a weakness
for large number Of wives. He is
credited with the possession of thr>
ty-nine Of these aids to happiness
Perhaps the object of this family
arrangement is to enable him to
strengthen his influence by ALI
ances contracted with the families
of the most powerful sheiks, from
among whom he 10 careful to sele ct
the partners of his Joys and sor-
rows. He has several children, but
none old enough to take any part i'll
his political or religious work.
The prophet has had constructed
for himself hut Of straw, in which
he sleeps, and passes the time not
occupied in business and public
prayer. 1t is unlawful, contrary to
the ordinances of God, TO construct
houses or live in them. Houses are
effeminate lnxuries, and therefore
must be destroyed.
On the occasions of his public
visits to the mosques Mohammeo
Ahmed rides beautiful Arab no rse.
and by his side hangs a sword
which is No idle ornament. His
dress IS a caftan similar in shape to
that worn by other Mohammedan
priasts. Init it. ia varieeatad in color
and richly ornamented. On his
head IS brass cap covered by a
white turban, surmounted by plume
o. ostrich feathers. At the hour
| appointed for public prayers, his
followers assemble armed with their
| spears, swords, and shields,
and when he mounts his horse
this vast armed multitude sur
round him in dense mass, and he
is carrid to the mosque 10 this hui
man torrent. On his way back he
| is escorted with the same care and
cere mony. This custom is per>
perhaps not an unnecessary one. 1t
argues strong devotion IN the
mehdi's followers, and proves that
he has known how to gain their of.
lection as we'll as their obedience.
There is one characteristic of the
new prophet which will secure him
friends In England. He is total
abstinence man of the purest water.
Against the demon of drunkenness
he wages fierce and relentless war
Not alone are wine and all sorts of
spirituous liquors forbidden, but ev-
en- the more harmless enjoyments
Of tobacco and coffee are anathema,
and severe penalties inflicted on
any one discovered using the for
hidden Injuries.
The new champion Of Islam is
fighting prophet; just the kind of
man to appeal to the lmaginatlons
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.
He is the black mans prophet,
and the black man is resolved that
the white face shall not como into
Africa as o master. This race an