Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-08-29
TERN SS.00 PER YEAR

Khcdiv,. for the purpose, rs he de.
clarcd, ut ciIllizing the natives and
establishing Il trade with Equatorial
Africa. annexed that portion of Africa
between Gondohora and the lako
sources south of the Nile river, and
appointed Sir Samuel Baker Cover
nor. in the meantime traders who
had gone to that region in search of
ivory aud other articles of commerce
tourd slave dealing much more pro-
iitable. They gave it their sole atten-
ton and in the course of few years
had become so powerful that they
were able with their large force of
armed kidnapCrs to defy the govern
mant. Baker cHdeavOrcd to deal with
them. hut could do nothing, and in
1873 Chinese Gordon was requested by
the khediVc tO undertake the work.
To this Gordon consented, and aftera
few years had so effectively cowcd the
slave trader that, had the Khediyo
been as eager Ia suppress the trade as
he was 10 still the indignant voice OF
civilization. tho negroes would have
been permitted to abide at their homes
in peace.
Gordon remained 10 Southern Egypt.
with brief interval, until 1881, u
large part of the time engaged in an
effort to suppress Il rebellion, against
the Egyptian Government. led by
/ Sulciman Ichchr. son Of the leading
/ slave dealer of the country.
! Soon after Gordon > return to Eng
| land il WAS announced that IN iusur-
recticn had taken place in the Soudau.
aud had assumed formidable proper
tions. AT the head of this insurrectiOn
was one Mohammcd Ahmed, also
known as FL Mahdi and the False
Prophet. FL Mahdi WAS religious
teacher of the province of Dongola,
who, by striking ecccntriclticS OF man
ner in life, impressed the natives as
being more than ordinary being. As
| his importance and influence increased
he married into the surrounding
tribes, and when about 1880 he lie
clared himself To be the rcdcemcr for
whom Islam had long been looking.
and whose coming Mohammed had
forctold. thousands belivcd him and
flocked to his standard He claimed
to have been commissioned OF Allah
to reform Islam, 10 establish univcr-
sal religion, and a Immunity OF goods
These appeals stirred the hearts of tho
fdnatica natives and the Mahdi soon
found him self at the head of an army
of thousands, backed by whose power,
ard also that of the slave dealers
whom Gordon had been fighting, he
felt safe in levvipg taxes and perform
ing other acts which strictly belong
to organized government.
! n soon became necessary for tho
Egyptian government to take steps To
suppress the Mahdi rebellion, every
armed force sent against him was de-
feated. Finally, what was supposed
to bo an inyincibic army, under COM
mand of Hicks Pasha, distinguished
English General, was sent into the re-
bcllion region in the spring and sum-
mer of 1883. but in the following No
vember that, too. was completely de-
tloyed a: FL Obeid.
The disaster at III Obcid put the on.
tire Soudan at the mercy of FL Mahdi.
In order To- provide for the safety OF
the European inhabitants OF the threat
eued city of Khartoum, which was the
commercial city Of the country.
Chinese" Gordon, by order OF the
English Government. started Tor thaI
city in February of last year. lie had
scarcely reached the city when it was
surrounded by the forces of the falso
Prophet. Finding that escape both
for himself and the inhabitants OF the
city was impossible he appealed to the
English Government. With character
istic procraStinatiOn Gladstone dc
layed sending force until the people
became so aroused that further delay
would be dangerous, when Lord Vol
scley was sent with II small army to
rescue Gordon, the conquest OF the
Mahdi and his army being secondary
object How soon the purpose OF tho
expedition will be accomplished 1t is
impossible to say, though under tn"
most favorable conditions it must bo
several weeks. Cincinnati Times Stor.
|