New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-25
CONQUERED By MAHOMETANS.
WORK OF A GREAT ARMY IN WEST AFRICA
sAMUDU, MANDISGo. GATHERS 100000 MEN
AND CLEARS THE ROADS oR TnIEyEa


AND CLEARS THE ROADS or THIEVES
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24-Secretary OF State
Bsyard 10 in receipt OF dispatch fron Sierra Leone
giving accounts Of the movements OF an army OF
100 900 mon In tho interior Of Africa The dispatch
dated July L. and was sent by United States Consul
Lewis who says;
shave tho honor to bring to the notice Of the Dc
partment Of state the fact o, extraordinary m~To
ment among the Mahometans Of the NIgrltsn regions,
extending from Timbuctoo 10 the West Coast IL ap
pears that In 1880 Mandlngo. named samudu. OF ex
traordlnary intelligence and conceived the idea
that he was called OF God N wage q war
for tho suppression OF paganism and the
opening OF the roads 20 the coast. which In
certain districts have been for generations sub
jeced to excessive backma and TO the plunderng of
vagabsnd tribes During the last five years no has col
ected army consisting Of foot and horse OF about
100000 men. Mahometan youths, wherever he goes
flock his standard Iious not only 10 secure the re-
ward in the hereafter promised to those who fight for
their religion but carry OF tho rich spoils OF time
which expeditions that battle for tho faith are
sure to win 1t Is said that samudu's army Is divided
into three portions. Ono Is operating near tho head
waters Of Niger This portion recently drove GER
tain French troops from the gold regions OF Boure,
OF which they had taken possession and is
now besieging Bammaks. a large town on the Niger
occupied about years by tho French who have
erected Notifications there Another portion Of the army
operating in the regions east Of Liberia hnd by sup
pressing the disturbing elements. uDettering trade and
introducing knowledge of religion and lottcr is IN one
sense opening the way for immigrants Of intel
gence and energy from America push ont from the
Afriea-Amercan Republic to the healthy and fertile
regions of the In another II IA foresalliug
the region for Mahometanism and making II DIM
cult II not impossible II indeed It is desirable. to con.
vert that country TO faith imported from America by
the immigrants. Tho third portion Of tho army Is ap-
preaching the few miles northwest OF Sierra
Leone IL secured the submission by force or vouu'
ary surrender OF all the tribes tho way for 500 miles
back.
"Tho largest and most important pagan kingdom on
this side Of Niger so1lima. Of which Talaba,
largo commercial city, the capital
For the last sixty years tho Fuah Mahometans have
trying by diplomacy and by arms TO subduo this
city the fath but II has always successfully resisted
both diplomat and Last year Samudu's army
in overwhelming numbers surrounded " and called
upon King surrender aud profess Islam This he
refused to do. Tue then invested and after
terrible siege Of nve months the King assembled the
royal family and principal chiefs In bis powder house
and informed them that he could hold out no
longer, his resources were exh"usted but having
for than 200 belonged 10 tho ruling element
lie was determined for himself ant family 20 die rather
than dnder MahOmean rule. lie gave tho chiefs
their choice either die with him ont Of the town
aud themselves up 20 the enemy. They decided 10
die with him. lie then set nrc 10 the powder and they
were all clown up. ThGs ended tho soolina power
which for more than scVcu generations hAu lnUuencfh
the trade and politics OF extensive districts and had
commanded tho principal highways 20 the coast
"Anoher very important achievement OF this army IS
the destruction OF tho HoObOO power-an irresponsible
gauzaton which for thirty has been of
annoy aGd Os To the caravans passing from the In
terror the samudu gave orders 20 attack them
their mountain strongholds which. until then had
proved Inaccessible 20 the DeghbOrlng forces. They
we're surprised. Their chief, Abal. captured aud
drcapitaied. and bis and legs severed the
trunk 10 the various countries whose inhab-
itants had suffered from his predatory and
murderous proceedings. Tho HoObooa described
renegade Fuahs in rebellion against tho King Of
1imboO. Tho roads have now been cleared Of these
thieves aud murderers that unprotected child
female may rayc In safety all through that district.
These operations will not be without sllutary effect
upon American commerce. for there Il IN that country
an Increasing demand for American productions. aud
many OF the articles produced by the people val
liable to the American trade.
"samudus army Is now only few miles from the
coast northwest OF Sierra Leone. IL II said 10 DO
his purpose u deal with the IT,
muck and shcrbro countries. whose constant
keep the maritime regions III such state II ferment
that the have struggled through obstuc
ton- hundreds OF miles. They hnd their greatest
difficulty the coast tribes and oiton fall victims
latter Samudu proposes 20 settle these districts
or 10 seize the professional warriors who tho chief
OF disorder aud transport them 10 the distant in
tetior where will be opportunity for tho graft
ncatiOn Of their warlke procliviies.
"It tis known hero what steps the Government OF
Sierra Will In view OF the proceedings OF this
from The interior. but 10 II believed that judc
ious corporation the part OF the British authorities
would effect good for the freedom and permanent
security trade In the regions neghboring to tho
colony"