Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-09-03
Arn1oA.s nrn pnopnnr.
isamudu Spreading the Islam Fairi,
by the sword.

-~~@-@AasAsA 'FA S~@@-hAtH eAhI ANA44AAA 1AAAAA
by the sword.
Secretary of State Bayard is in receipt
of dispatch from Sierra Leone giving an
account of the movements of an army of
100000 men in the interior of Africa.
The dispatch is dated July 14th last and
was sent by United States Consul Lewis.
Mr.. Lewis says lave the honor to
bring to the notice of the department of
state the fact of an extraordinary move
ment among the Mohammedans of the
Nigritian regions, extending from Tim
buctoo to the west coast.
Il appears that in 1880 Mandingo
named Samudu, Of extraordinary intelli-
gence and energy, conceived the idea that
he WIS called by God to wage war for
the suppression of paganism and the
opening of the road to the coast, which
in certain districts have been for genera
tions subjected to excessive blackmail and
to the plundering of vagabond tribes
During the last five years he has collected
an army consisting of foot and horse of
about 100, 900 men. Mohammedan youth,
wherever he goes, flocks to his standard,
anxious not only to secure the reward in
the hereafter promised for those who
fight for their religion, but TO carry off
the rich spoils which these expeditions
that battle for the faith are sure to win.
1t is said that Samudu's 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 Boure, of
which they had taken possession, and are
now besieging Bammaks, a large town on
the Niger occupied about three years ago
by the French, who have erected fortiti-
cations there. Another portion of the
army is operating in the regions east Of
Liberia, and by suppressing the disturb
ing elements, interfering trade and III
Producing n knowledge of religion and
letters is in one sense opening the way
for negro immigrants of intelligence and
energy from America to push out from
the Africo- American republic to the
healthy and fertile regions of the interior.
In another sense ii is forestalling the
whole region for lIohammedanism and
making il difficult, if not impossible-if
indeed il is desirable-to convert that
country TO the faith imported from
America by the immigrants.
The third portion of the army is
approaching the coast few miles north
west of Sierra Leone. II has secured the
submission by force or voluntary sur
render of all the tribes on the way for 500
miles back. The largest and most import
ant pagan kingdom on this side of the
Niger was Soolima of which Talaba,
large commercial city, was the capital.
For the last 60 years the Fulah Mohani-
medaus have been trying by diplomacy
and by arms to subdue this city to the
ia, hot hos al pnnnppcf,,1l,r so
sisted both diplomat and warrior.
Last year Sainudu's army in over
whelming numbers surrounded it and
called upon the king to surrender and
profess Islam. This lac refused to do.
The town was then invested, and after a
terrible Siege of five months the king as
sembled the royal family and principal
chiefs in his power house and informed
them that he could hold out no longer us
his resources We're exhausted but having
for more than BOG years belonged TO the
ruling element, he was determined for
himself and family TO die rather than
come under Mohnmmednn rule lie gave
the chiefs their choice either to tie with
him or 90 out of the town and give them
selves up TO the enemy. They decided to
die with him. lie then set fire to the
town and they were all blown up. THUS
'l'''e'' .hc 'ouoii'lp PoWtr' whitl! aor
MR. nun seNeh S'he "! NY iiinu
I ,... .ie tr',e ''i' '"il'ioS VI eNteiiS'Se
'hS'iluts nn' lu e''l'iii''.''"u'' INC pci'el-
pa highways 10 'he 'oaN,'
Ahothet WY iillort'tilt "cilisSrmeh, OF
'''lS Sunny u tlie 'cStruettoIi vi t'le iioonoo
power IN irresponsible organization
Whieh lor d" Years HAS ue'll source OF
thloya'lee aiia loss 70 caravans passing
rom the INFERIOR 10 me coaSt, ohlllun
gave orders 10 attack ihem IN their noun,
u'lh Sirohslloins; wIlieh lh'll then nad
,roNu' l' ~" 70 the heiShn0tine
| l"fces' ihey were surprised lhelf
ehlei' Anal was captured ami decnpltattd
ana ms arms ana legs, severed IRON the
| trunk were sent 10 me various countries
whose lnh'nitilh!S hal suffered from ms
predatory ana lmuraeronS proceedings
me 1oopoos are described as renegade
fulahs III rebellion against tie King Of
| Ihnpo"' me ronds have now beer
cleared oil THESE tmeVes ana innrderers
so that an unprotected child or temal'
may traNel IN safety all through that dis
trlct.
THESE operations VIII not he without
| sanitary etleCt upon American commerce