The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-25
A NEW HOLY WAR.
Spreading Peace and the Mohammedan Re-
ligion by Means of Fire and Sword.

Spreading Peace and the Mohammedan Re-
1igion by Means of Fire and Sword.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24.-Secretary of State
Bayard is in receipt of a dispatch from Sierra
Leone, giving accounts of the movements of an
army of one hundred thousand men in the
interior of Africa The dispatch is dated July
10 last. and was sent by United States Consul
Lewis. Mr.. Lewis says
II have the honor to bring to the notice of
the Department of State the fact of an extraor-
binary movement among the Mohammedans OF
the Nigritian regions, extending from Ilmouctoo
to the west coast. 1t appears that in 1880 Man
dngo named Samudu, of extraordinary intelli-
gence and energy, conceived the idea that he was
called Of God to wage war for the suppression
of paganism, and that he could further his pur-
pose by opening the roads to the coast, which,
in certain districts, have been for generations
subjected to excessive black mail 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, Moham-
medan youth, wherever he goes, flock to his
standard, anxious not only to secure tho reward
their religion, but to carry off the rich spois
which these expeditions that battle for the faith
are sure to win.
ut 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
Bourse which they had taken possession of, and
are now besieging Bammaks, large town on
the Niger, occupied about three years ago by the
French, who have erected Notifications there.
Another portion of the army is operating in the
regions east of Liberia, and by suppressing the
disturbing elements, interfering trade, and in
PRODUCING a knowledge of religion and
letters, is in one sense opening
the way for negro emigrants 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 it is forestalling the whole region
for Mohammedanism, and making it difficult, if
not impossible, it, indeed, it is desirable to con-
vert that country to the faith imported from
America by the immigrants. The third portion
of the army is approaching the coast, a few miles
northwest of Sierra Leone. 1t has secured the
submission, by force or voluntary surrender of
all the tribes on the way for FIVE hundred miles
back
THE largest and most important pagan king
dom on this side of the Niger was Socima of
which Talaba, large commercial city, was the
capital. For the last sixty years the Fulah Mo-
hommedans have been trying by diplomacy and
by arms to subdue this city to the faith, but it
has always successfully resisted both diplomatic
and warrior. Last year Samudus army, in
overwhelming numbers, surrounded it, and
called upon the king to surrender and profess
Islamism. This he refused to do The town
was then invested and, after terrible
siege of five months, the king assembled
the royal family and principal chiefs in
his powder house, and informed them that he
could hold out no longer as his resources were
exhausted, but having for more than two hun
dred years belonged to the ruling element he
was determined for himself and family TO die
rather than come under Mohammedan rule He
gave the chiefs their choice, either to die with
him or go out of the town and give themselves
up to the enemy. They decided to die with him.
They then set fire to the powder, and they were
all blown up Thus ended the Soolima power
which for more than seven generations had in
fiuenced the trade and politics of extensive
districts, and had commanded the 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
years has been a source of annoyance and loss
to caravans passing from the interior to the
coast. Samudu gave orders to attack them in
their mountain stronghods, which, until then
had proved inaccessible to the neghboring
forces. They were surprised their chief, Abal
was captured and decaptated and his arms and
legs, severed from the trunk, were sent to the
various countries whose inhabitants had suf-
fered from his depredatory and murderous
attacks. The Hooboos are described as renegade
Fulahs, in rebellion against the King of Tim
buctoo. The roads have now been cleared of
these thieves and murderers, so that an unpro-
tected child or female may travel in safety all
through that district.
These operations will not be without salutary
effect on American commerce, for there is In
that country an increasing demand for American
productions, and many of the articles produced
by the people are valuable in American trade
Samudus army is now only few miles from
the coast northwest of Sierre Leone. 1t is said
to be their purpose now to deal with the 1imuch
and Sherdro countries. whose constant wars keep
the maritime regions in such a state of ferment
that often. after the caravans have struggled
through distractions for hundreds of miles. thew
find their greatest difficulty among the coast
tribes, and often fall victims to the latter
THE CHOLERA