, 1885-08-25
IN AFRICA.
Movements of an Immense
Army in a Religious War.
A Supervising Architect Who
Has a Peck of Trouble.
The Wabash Strike Appears
to be Very Watery.
An Interesting Story From Africa

~ASlilNNlbN. aug. -. 7HtcFctdfy OIL
State Bayard is in receipt of n dispatch
from Sierra Leone, giving accounts Of the
movements Of an army of 100, 900 men in
the interior of Africa. The dispatch is
dated July IA last, and was sent by Unit
ed States Consul Lewis. Mr.. Lewis says.
| have the honor to bring to the NOTICE of
the department of state the fact of an ex-
traordinary movement among the Mo
hammedans of the Nigrritian regions, ex-
tending from Tmbuctoo to the west coast.
1t appears that in 1880 a Mandingo
named Samudu, of extraordinary intelli-
gence and energy, conceived the idea that
he was called of God to wage war for the
suppression of paganism and that of the
opening of roads to the coast, which in
certain districts have been for generations
subjected to excessive blackmail and to
plundering of vagabond tribes. During
the last five years he has collected an army
consisting of foot and horse of about IO0,-
600 men, The Mohammedan youth,
wherever he goes, flock to his standard,
anxious not only to secure reward in the
hereafter, promised to those who fight for
their religion, but to carry off the rich
spoils of which these expeditions that bat
tie for the faith are sure to win. 1t is
said that Samudu's army is divided into
three portions. one of which is operating
near the head waters of the Niger. This
portion recently drove certain French
troops from the gold regions of Boarse, of
which they had taken possession, and are
now besieging Bammahs. a large town on
the Niger, occupied about three years by
the French, who have erected fortifca-
tons there. Another portion of the army
is operating in the regions of East Liberia,
and by suppressing the disturbing elements,
interfering trade, and introducing knowl-
edge Of religion and letters, is in one sense
Of opening the way for negro immigrants
of intelligence and energy from America,
to push out from the American republic
to the healthy regions of the interior. In
another sense it is forestalling the whole
region for Northumberland and making
it difficult if not impossible, if indeed, it
is desirable, to convert that country to the
faith imported from America by immi-
grants. The third portion of the army is
approaching the coast a few miles north
west of Sierra Leone. 1t has secured sub
mission by force or by voluntary surrender
Of all the tribes on the way for 500 miles
back. The largest and most important
pagan kingdom on this side of the Niger
was Soolima, Of which Talaba, 4 large
commercial city, was the capital. For the
last sixty years Fulah Motfammedans have
been trying by diplomacy and by arms to
subdue this city to the faith, but it has
always successfully resisted both diplomat
and warrior. Last year Samudu's army
ia overwhelming numbers surrounded it
and called upon the king TO surrender and
profess the Islam. This he refused to do.
The town was then invested and after a
siege of five months, the king assembled
the royal family and principal chiefs in
his powder house and informed them that
be could hold out no longer, as his re-
sources were exhausted; but having for
more than 200 years belonged to the rul-
ing element, he was determined for him
self and family to die rather than come
under Mohammedan rule. lie gave the
chiefs their choice, either to die
with him or, or go out of the tow and
give themselves up to the enemy. They
decided to die with him. He then set
fire to the powder and they were all blown
up. Thus ended Soolimas power. which
for more than seven generations had in
huenced the trade and politics of the ex-
tensive districts. and had COM
manded the principal highways to
the coast. Another very important
achievement is the destruction of the
Hooboo power, an irresponsible organi-
cation which for thirty years has been the
source of annoyance and loss 70 .he cara
vans passing from the interior to the
coast. Samudu gave orders to attack
them in their mountain strongholds,
which until then had proved inaccessible
to the neighboring forces. They were
surprised, their chief, Abal was captured
and decapitated, and his arms and legs
severed from the trunk were sent to the
various countries whose inhabitants had
suffered from his predatory and murder
Gus proceedings. The Hooboos are de-
scribed as renegade Faulabs in rebellion
against King Timboo. The roads have
now been cleared of these thieves
and murderers, so that an
unprotected child or female may travel
in safety all through that district. These
operations will not be without statutory
effect upon American commerce, for there
is in that country an increasing demand
for American productions and many Of
the articles produced by the people art
valuable in American trade. Samudu'l
army is now only a few miles from the
coast northwest Of Sierra Leone. 1t il
said to be their purpose now to deal Will
the Timuch and Sherbro countries. whose
constant wars keep the maritime region
in such 4 state Of ierment that often cara.
vans have struggled through distinctions
for hundreds of miles. They find their
greatest difficulty among the coast tribes.
and often fall victims TO the latter.
rnm a. a. a. ~ A a =