The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-03-11
TaIE with Fl lFahdi.

FL Mahdi is a man of plans, as the English
forces in Egypthavel long ago learned, and every
bit Of news from the Soudan concerning the
False Prophet is Of interest. The following
comes from an Arab source, and is in the form
of an interview in an Egyptian paper, pub
lished in Paris for several years. and bearing
the strange name Of AbOu Sdiidrd or TIE
Man lrM iSpecidcles. merchant Of Khar-
toum reports his interview with Mohammed
Ahmed, FL Mahdi. 1t will be noticed that in
order to quiet the jealousies raised against
him by those of the Mussulmeu who feared
that his assumed religious mission and title Of
Mahdi or Prophet might injure the clerical au-
thority Of the Sultan, Mohammed Ahmed de-
clares that he is only patriot fighting for his
country's independence, surrendered to the
British by Tewfk, the present Khedive or
Niceroy Of Egypt. The Klartoum merchant
writes as follows:
Having been summoned by the hero of
heroes, the lion of the valley, the glory of
the faith and the victor of battles, Sidi Mo
manned Ahmed (let Allah preserve him) l
went TO his camp on the 9th Of the month of
Rabi-al-Akhar. transmit TO you faithfully
the report Of our conversation, which is, be-
lieye, capable of interesting you:
"What DO you think of our affairs?" said he
to nc. "Do you believe that Allah will make
the weak capable of vanquishing the strong?"
Yes" said ], provided the weak should
have justice on his side"
"Did you see how Tewik accuses me of
wanting to have myself passed as the Mahdi
in order to estrange from me all those would
like to save from the hands Of the British?
Allah is my witness that such an accusation
is false"
1t is not surprising that Tewfik, who has
cowardly sold his country, should be capable
Of such imfamy.
"What astonishes me, is not that; but it is
to see Egyptian soldiers coming TO fight me
under the orders Of our common foes the Eng
lish."
'Still, you see that Egyptians are desert
ing by the thousand, and hasten 10 join your
soldiers Let Allah be praised on account
of those. But weep for the others who lend
their assistance TO our enemies. They should
have, if not help us, at least declined to fight
us; for, what we want, is to snatch our coun-
try from the grasp Of the foreigners anxious
to conquer it and drive us away from home"
"Have you made known your intentions,
and have you caused to be published in a
manifesto, the aim which you are pursuing, in
order to give denial to the accusations of
Tewfk and his British masters?"
81 have sent emissaries to Egypt for that
purpose, but l am afraid that have been ar
rested by the Egyptian Government. The
best proof that l have never pretended TO be
Ell Mahdi is that / have around me the most
illustrious Sheiks of Islam, and thousands of
partisans, who, instead Of fighting on my side,
would have all of them abandoned me, if [
had ever shown the pretention attributed to mo
by my enemies.
"What dost thou think of the preparations
made against you7"
cit is said that Gordon is well supplied
with hundreds of thousands of tdrGnis where
with TO purchase my allies, as has already
been done with some Arab chiefs. But /
swear by Allah that If Gordon falle into my
hands shall kill him, and I'll cause his
money to be distributed among the poor Nus
sulmans who fight with me for the deliverance
of the country"
But if the iEnglish arm against you the
HindoOs andthe Abysinniansi'
81 do not fear the Hindoos; those who are
Moslems are for rs, and the others do not ask
anything but to be delivered from their British
tyrants. As to the Abysinnians, we'll 20 to
them at the swords poiht?'
but the Euglishmen?"
''The heat will melt them and the simeon
will carry them off. As to myself, if [ am
not the victor, il do not succeed in freeing
my country, shall seek dehtli ON the battle
field. ~. Y. M1il aud ErDress