National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-08-25
AN AFRICAN ARMY.
The March of Mohammedan Host
Bent ON Civilizing the Black Con-
ttuCut,

The March of Mohammcdan Host
Bent ON Ciyiiizing the Black Con-
tinCnt.
Secretary of State Bayard is in receipt OF
q dispatch from Sierra Leone giving ac-
counts Of the movements OF an army Of
100000 men In the interior Of Africa. The
dispatch is dated July IL last, and was
sent by United States Consul Lewis, who
eays ~ have the honor to bring TO the
notice of the Department Of State the fact
of an extraordinary movement among tho
Mohammedans OF the Nigritian regions, ex-
tending from Timbuctoo to the west coast.
1t appears that in 1850 Mandingo, named
Samudu, of extraordinary intelligence and
energy, conceived the idca 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 dis
tricts have been for generations subjected
to excessive bluckmail and to the plunder-
ing of vagabond tribes. During the last
Ave years he has collected an army, consist
ing Of foot and horse Of about 100000 mon.
MOhammedan youth, wherever he goes,
flock to his standard, anxious, not only to
secure the rcwarc in the hereafter promised
to those who fight for their religion, but to
carry OFF the rich spoils of time, which
these expeditions that battle for the faith
are sure to win.
"Is is said that Samudu's army Is di-
vided into three portions One Is operating
near the headwaters of the Niger. This
portion recently drove certain French
troops from the gold regions of Bourc, Of
which they had taken possession and are
now besieging Bammak, larger town on
the Niger, occupied about three years ago
| by the French, who have erected fortillca-
| tions there.
"Anothcr portion Of the army is oper-
ating IN the regions east Of Liberia, and by
suppressing the disturbing element, unfet-
tcTing trade, and introducing knowledge
| Of religion and letters, Is In one sense open
| ing the way for negro immigrants OF intel
| lgencc and energy from America TO push
out from the Afrco-American republic to
| the healthy and fertile regions of the In
terror.
ain another sense, II Is forestalllng the
whole region for Mohammedanism and
making IL difficult, II not impossible, IL in
| deed IL is desirable, to convert that coun-
try TO the faith imported from America by
| the immigrants
"Thc third portion of the army is APP
| preaching the coast n few miles TO the
northwest of Sic IRA Leone. 1t has secured
| the submission BY force or voluntary sur
render Of all the tribes on the way for 800
| miles back. The largest and most important
| pagan kingdom on this side OF the Niger
was Soolma, of which Talaba, a large com
mercial city, was the capital. For the last
sixty years the Eulah Mohammedans have
been trying by diplomacy and by arms to
subdue this city to the faith, but IL has
always successfully resisted both diplomat
and warrior.
"I.ast year Samudu's army I'm over
whclming numbers surrounded IL and called
upon the king TO surrender aud profess
Islam. This he refused to do. The town
was then invested and after terrible siegc
nf u,.n he hn Iii inf a1 Ia ynl
family and principal chiefs in his powder
| house and informed them that he could hold
out no longer as his resources were eX-
hausted, but having for more than POO
years belonged to the ruling element he
was determined for himself aud family to
die rather than come under Mohamme Ian
rule. He gave the chiefs their choice,
either 20 die with him or 80 out OF the town
or give themselves up to the enemy.
They decided 10 die with him. lie then
set fire to the powder, and they were all
blown up. This ended the Soolima power,
which for more than seven generations had
influenced the trade and politics of extern
sve districts, and had commanded .he
principal highways TO the coast Another
very important achievement of this army Is
the destruction of the Hooboo power, an
irresponsible organization, which for thirty
yeaIs has been Il source OF annoyance and
less to caravans passing from the interior
10 the coast. Samudu gave orders to Mt
tack them in their mountain strongholds,
which, until then, had proved inaccessible
to the neighboring forces. They were sur
prised.
"Their chief, Abal, was captured and de-
capitated, and his arms and legs severed
| from the trunk were sent to the various
countries, whose inhabitants had suffered
from his predatory and murderous pro-
cecdings. The lIooboos are described as
renegades, Faulahs in rebellion against
the King OF limbo.
''The roads have now been cleared of
these thieves and murderers so that an un-
protected child or female may travel In
| safety all through that district. These
operations will not be without a silutary
effect upon American commerce, for there
| is in that country an increasing demand for
| American productions, and many OF the ar
| ticles produced by the people are valuable
l. in American trade.
"Samudu's army Is now only few miles
| from the coast, northwest of Sierra Leone.
| II is said TO be their purpose now to deal
with the Timneh and Shcrbro countries,
whose constant wars keep the maritime
regions In such state Of fcrment that often
| the caravans have struggled through OBJ
| structions for hundreds Of miles; they find
their greatest difficulties among the coast
tribes, and often fall victims to the latter.
| SGmudu proposes to settle these districts,
or, If not able, to seize the professional war
riors who are the chief cause of disorder and
transport them TO the distant interior, where
there will be no opportunity for the graft
| hcatiCn OF their warlike proclivitics.
at 10 not known here what steps the gov
emment of Sierra Leone will take in view
of the proceedings Of this force from the in.
terror But it Is believed that q judicious
cooperation with them on the part Of the
British authorities would effect great good
for the freedom and permanent security OF
trade IN the regions neighboring TO the
colony"
"THE Golden Eagle Clothing Store"