The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-09-12
The White Pasha.

The White Pasha in the BARREL Gazelle
province of Africa continues to be an object
of great interest and romantic speculation in
all parts of Europe. In the great colonizing
nations of Europe, which have more or less
frequent communication with all parts of
Africa, the appearance of this white chief
with a considerable army,-'enormous" ac-
cording to some accounts,-has appealed to
the popular imagination with great force. A
knight whose identity is unknown both to
his enemies and his friends. appears in Cen
trail Africa and, by the mere fame of his APP
proach, shakes the power Of the Mahdi who
has ruled with a rod of iron since the death
of the other Mahdi, the murderer of Gordon.
The news from the mysterious stranger is
exceedingly meagre. Abu Dign they call
him in Africa, which means "Father of
Boards" but the beardedness of man is no
great clue to his identity in Africa. But
there are other reports concerning him
which makes it probable that Abu Dim is
really Stanley. This information is anus
ingly small and barren, however Speaking
Of it, the London Times, better authority
on Central African affairs than on the
American tariff system, says:
Inc chief evidence, so far as our most recent
information y goes for believing that the white
Pashan Is Mr.: Stanley, Is that large number Of
Niam-Niam country are with him. The Mann
Nam country lies TO the south Of the Bahr-el-
whim River, from which Mr.. Stanley started on
his march to Wadelai. This is sufficiently in har-
mony with the vague and indecisve news of the
explorer, which, according TO the same messen-
gers OF whom We have already spoken had I'll
tered through from tribe to tribe until il had
reached Emin on the shores of the Albert
NyanZa. Mr.. Stanley, ii was reported after TAX
ing his plunge into the unknown country between
the Aruwhimi and the Albert Nyanza had come
into collision with hostile tribes who had forced
him TO defect his march out of the straight route
to Wadelai. That he should have taken the direc-
ton of the Niam-Niam country,--that is should
have turned toward the northeast instead Of keep
ing on due east-s perfectly Ineligible. A Cairo
telegram contributes another faint ray OF light
although IT would be easy to attribute too much
Importance TO it. Some pilgrims who have
arrived at sgakin report that they stayed four
white men," armed with Remingtons. The only
leader In Central Africa who has a considerable
number OF white men with him Is Mr.. Stanley.
This summary of reasons while rather
more learned than Ineligible to public so
little acquainted with the interior of Africa
as are most Americans, yet concerns a man
in whom Americans are greatly interested,
for Henry M. Stanley is himself an Ameri
can, though born, we believe, in Great Brit
ain. Ii Mr.. Stanley is really the mysterious
knight, the ''White Pasha," Abu Dign, there
will probably soon be an opportunity, If il
has not already been presented, for him to
show his bravery and ability more conspicu-
ously even than he has in the past. Now the
Mahdi has sent five thousand foot soldiers
and five hundred cavalry up the Nile to stop
the stranger from the Bahr-el-Gazelle. A
successful battle with the enemy from before
whom Lord Wolsely and an English army
have retired would be for Stanley and per-
haps for all Africa, an achievement of the
greatest moment