The morning call., 1890-06-25
SITUATION IN AFRICA.
An Interview With an Emissary
Of the Mahdi of Tripoli.
The Annual Inquest During thu Pilgrimage to
Mccall Causes Religious Agitation.
No Visit to the Holy City.
Special to THE MoRNINe CALI.

PARIS, June 6, 1S90.-The situation in
Northern Africa is not very reassuriug to
Europeans. An unusual agitation reigns in
the Mohammedan countries. An old pr0ph-
ecy predicts that during the year 1890 $500
of the Hegira) the agitation will be Gained
and affairs resume their normal condition
that is, the Europeans in Africa will have
been exterminated. Four years ago this
agitation appeared in the south of Morocco
and Algeria; now 1t reaches Southern
Egypt, Arabia and Central Asia. On one
side there is the awakening of Islam" and
on the other the prohibition of the pilgrim
age to Mecca by the Governor of Algeria,
thus mourning the displeasure of all Mus
sulmans i'll the French colony.
Without entering into details about the
recent outbursts in Morocco, Algeria, Ara
bia and Egypt, it is well to recall that the
Mahdl of Dongola, who had obtained so
great prestige after the death of General
Gordon and the fall Of Khartoum in 1881,
disappeared from the scene of action soon
as he had received orders from Mohammed-
el-Mahdi, known as the Mahdi of Tripoli.
This formidable Mahdi is the son of the
exiled Algerian, Sdi- Mohammed-b ben Allies
Senousi, who founded, forty-siX years ago,
religious association bearing his name,
Senoussias. The spread of the SenOussias
has been marvellous, and to-day the son of
Senousi commands half the Mussulman
world
1t has been my good fortune to meet one
OF the emissaries of this famous Mahd, for
be has enllssaries and spies in all parts of
Europe. This emissary told me that Mo-
hammed- el-Mahdi has his headquarters or
his zaouia in Turkish territory, in Trip oil,
two days march from the oasis of Sy0nah.
Strange" said this emiSSary, the
hearthstone of Mohammedanism to-day is
at the same place that it was centuries ago.
Where is now Jehrbouh, the holy city of
Senoussias, was the spot selected by Mo-
BANNED l -Cabbah. tho Old Man of the
Mountain to kill Louis TX, King of
France.
The Mahdi of Tripoli is the irreconcilable
enemy OF French domination in the north
OF Africa lie has important military
forces at his command; forces that he could
utilize In case of war. He has constructed
FORTIFIED CONVENT
At Jehrbouh, dug wells, csterns. and laid
out plantations. In 1874 there was but one
convent containing a few students and
slaves, to-day the Senoussias possess 100
converts and Mohammed-el- Mahdi COM
mands thousands of Algeraus and slaves.
The founder of the Senoussias died in
1852 and his son tries by every method to
preserve the prestige of his father. Senousi
never went out without black veil in order
to conceal from bis faithful ones the great
brilllancy OF his cOuntenance. Mohammed-
el-Mahdi does not conceal his face, but he
is seldom seen in public. He is calm and
impassive. When he receives a visitor his
watch is held in his hand SO that the inter
view may end at the time appointed. Mo-
hammed-el- Mahdi is very tall very mpos-
ing, and when he breaks the silence his
words are well chosen and his style most
eloquent The vigilance of the authorities
in Algeria has prevented the SenousSias
from founding zaouias, but little by little,
aided by their emssaries, they collect, in the
shade, 1t Is true, but some day they Will
come to the light. The KhOmans, Tidjinias,
RhOumalias and Oulad Sidi Cheickh all are
ours, and all are ready to engage in a holy
war in order TO show their hatred OF the
Christians"
The annual pilgrimage to Mecca is one
great cause of this religious agitation.
The 100000 caravan travellers exchange not
only merchandise but also ideas and news.
The presence of Christians in the Occident
interests most of all these Mussulmans, so
that the pilgrimage is the cause oil Il yeri-
table periodical inquest on European politi-
cal and administrative acts in Northern
Africa In few months the results Of this
inquest are known in all Mohammedan
countries But this year the Government
of Algeria has forbidden the pilgrimage to
Mecca, because there are already cases OF
cholera in the holy city. As 1t Is written
'he who dies without having seen Mecca
may as well have been Jew or Christian"
the CONSERVATION of the believers may be
imagined However, the French Govern
ment. that gives cholera and the filth of the
Mussulmans as excuse for the new law, has
another, a graver reaSon-the prevention
of attempts TO undermine French rule in
North Africa. Unfortunately, the French
Government may discover too late its mis-
take. The believers Will make the Pilgrim
age by land to some Morocco port, and thus
outwit their ruler.
NOTHING WILL BE GAINED,
And much will be lost, for the Mussulmans'
anger is excited, their religious senti-
ments insulted, and they, more firm in their
determination to rid themselves of Christian
rule
1t is rather curious that the press has an
important role in this war between Mussul-
mans and Christians; the MuSsulmans read
the papers, and 1t will be remembered that
at the time of troubles in TuniS resistance
was urged by the Moskatel, a journa! pub
lished in Sardinia. The Sheik Abou- Nadara
publishes in Paris Mussulman journal, and
in Constantinople there is an Arab of
Syrian origin, true MuSSulman, who edits,
in the Arabic ami Turkish languages,
little sheet of which 100000 are printed and
sent by freight from Samarkand to NIGGA
dor.
In reality great cause for the troubles
in the French possessions of North Africa
is the extreme poverty of the inhabitants,
poverty caused by the devastations of
crckets during the past few years. The
poor people are struggling against their
plague, and already millions of crickets
and their eggs have been destroyed, but
destroyed after the loss of all the crops.
The people, starving, have been compelled
TO steal, to pillage even their c0religionists.
These attacks are called in Arabic nefras
and are peculiar only TO the market-places
M. Forcioli, one of the Algerian deputies,
says: when there are no more crickets
there will be no more misery, consequently
no more nefras."
The French Government is seeking by
every means to diminish the poverty and to
aid tue unfortunate ones.
But as soon as relieved the followers of the
Prophet will forget their benefactors and
return to their device: THE war will en-
dure until the judgment; there may be
respite, but peace DeverW
BARONESS ALTHEA SALVADOR