The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-09-04
THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA.

THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA.
An Immense Army Marching Through thu
Country for the Purpose Of EstA bliah,ng
Reformation.
WASHINGTON, August 25.-Secretary OF
State Bayard Is in receipt of dispatch
from Sierra Leone giving accounts Of the
movement Of an army Of one hundred thou
sand men in the interior Of Africa. The
dispatch IL dated July IA, and was sent BY
United States Consul Lewis In il he says:
, l have the honor to bring to the notice of
the Department Of State the fact of an ex-
traor'lnary movement among the Mohaui-
nedans of the Negritian regions extending
from TimbuctOO to the west coast 1t
happens that in 1850 Mandingo named
Samudu, Of extraordinary Intelligence and
energy, conceived the idea that he was
called of God to wage war for the sup
preston of Paganism and the opening OF
the roads to the coast, which in
certain districts have been for gen.
erations subjected to excessive black
bond tribe. During the last five years he
has collected an army consisting, foot and
horse, of abont 100000 men. The Mo-
hamnnedan youth, wherever he goes, flock
TO his standard, anxious not only TO secure
the reward in the hereafter promised to
those who fight for their religion, but to
carry off the rich spells of time. which in
these expeditions those that battle for the
Il
army is divided into three portions. One
is operating near the head waters of the
Niger This portion recently drove certain
French troops from the gold regions of
Bourse. of which they had taken posses
sion. and are now bcsirging Bammaks,
large town on tine Niger, occupied about
three years ago by the French, who have
erected Notifications there.
An Their portion of the army is Operat-
ing in the regions east of Siberia, and by
suppreSsing the disturbing elements. I'M
lettering trade and intrOducinga knowledge
of religion and letters is, i'll one sense,
opening the way for negro immigrants Of
intelligence and energy from America 10
push out from the African-American Re
public 10 the healthy and fertile regions of
the interior. In another sense it il fore
staliing the whole region for MOhammedism
and making it difficult, il not impossible. il
indeed it is desirable to convert that conn
try to the faith imported from America by
tho immigrants. The third portion Of
the army is approaching the coast
few miles northwest of Sierre Leone. II has
secured the admission by force or vol
untsry 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 Tala-
ba, large commercial city, was the capital.
For the last sixty years the Fu'ah Moham-
medans have been trying by diplomacy and
by arms to subdue this city to the faith. bit
it has always successfully resisted both
Diplomat and warrior. Last year Samndu's
army in overwhelming numbers surrounded
it and called upon the King to surrender
and profess Islam. This he refused to do.
The town was then invested and after 4
terrible siege of five months and the King
assembled the royal family and principal
chiefs in his powder house and informed
them that he could hold out 10 longer as
his resources were exhausted, but having
for more than 200 years belonged 20 the
ruling element he was determined for him
self and family to die rather than come UNI
der the Mohammedan rule. He gave the
go out of the town and give themselves up
to the enemy. The chiefs decided TO die
with him. He then set fire to the powder.
and they were all blown UP. Thus ended
the SOOlima power, which for more than
seven generations had influenced the trade
and politics OF exclusive districts, and had
commanded the principal highways to the
coast.
Another very important achievement Of
this army was the destruction of the HOchoC
power an irresponsible organization, which
tor thirty Years had been source of annoy
ance and loss to caravans passing FROM the
interior to the coast. Samudu gave orders
to attack them in their mountain strong
holds. which until then had proved inacces-
sible to the neighbOring forces. They Were
surprised. their chief, Abat, was captured and
decaptate,! and his arms and legs severed
from the trunk were sent to the variouS cOun /
res WHO'S, inhabitants had suffered frrln ne
predatory and murderous proceedings. The |
HoobOcs are described as renegade feulahs ,
n rebellion against the King of Tiubucto0.
The roads have now been cleared OF these
thieves and murderers SO that an unprotected /
female may travel in safety all through that ,
district Those operations wiki not be with
out 4 salutory effect upon american com
merce, for there is in that country All in
creased demand for American PRODUCTIONS
and many of the articles produced by the
people are valuable in American trade.
Samudu's army is now only few mi es
from the coast and northwest of Sierra
Leone. II is said tn be his purpose now 10
deal with the Timuch and Sherbo countries
whose constant wars keep the maritime re-
giops in such state OF ferment that often
the caravans having struggled through Oh
structions for hundreds of miles they find
their greatest difficulty among the coast
tribes and often fall victims to the latter.