The Indianapolis journal., 1895-08-16
Woman Burned to Death
NEAR VIEW OF THE MAHDI.


Father Bonomi the Italian priest who
was for some years prisoner to the Mahd-
lists in the Soudan. was interviewed the
other day at his home in a quiet street
of Verona by a reporter Of the Italian
weekly paper LIllustrazione. and the faith
er talked at some length of his captivity.
The priest was found at table with his old
mother. his sister. another priest and a
young man. He is described as a SUM-
burned man with vivid black eyes and a
look of alertness and courage. He believes
that Italy is to derive benefit from her
costly African possessions, and that the
dervtshes have been weakened by dissen-
sion and famine. besides being afraid Of
Italian arms after recent victories. When
asked whether ne had personally known
the Mahdi. Father Bonomrs answer, with
laugh, was "Yes. my friend, perforce."
Father Bonomis view OF the Mahdi Is
fresh and instructive. The father was cap
tured with several other missionaries by a
company of dervishes five days journey
from FL Obeid. They were not maitreated,
but merely forced to accompany their cap
tors Two sisters and one missionary died
on the way, as much from fear as aught
else: The others having been taken to Ell
Ooeid, which the Soudanese had taken,
were set free and left to earn their living
by labor. The prisoners occupied hut, and
the men set themselves to earn something
by repairing arms and utensils, while the
sisters attended to the household duties.
sand inhabitants, sheltered in huts of
single story. roughly made of clay dried in
the sun and bedaubed without so that water
might not filter through. The city included
fields and gardens, and was of great CON-
pass, SO that one might not go round 1t in
day IL was traversed by ample and regu-
lar streets.
The people did not trouble themselves
about the prisoners, but the Mahdi as
pomp of an affected humanity, He. came
from his hut at dawn, miserably clad in
patched shirt, and said his prayers in the
presence of two three thousand persons
gathered to see him. Then, seated on the
earth, he made Father Bonomi sit near
him, and repeated to the crowd passages
from the Koran or read to them from books
recording the deeds of Mohammed or Omar
There eloquence in his discourse,
nor were there parallels or flowers of rhet-
oric. He frequently turned to ask the fa-
ther's approval of the matter of the dis
course, put the fathers usual answer was
that he did not understand II. No more
would be effective to read Dante TO ig
norant peasants. Sometimes when the dis
course had to do with larger morals the
inquiries, and then the latter would In tri-
umph TO the people say:
You see: he says ii is well
When the speaking or reading was at an
eta some one In the crowd would leap to
the 'front.' and with his arms in air begin
TO cry:
what is it?" the Mahdl would demand
and then the man would set forth his case.
1t was beast stolen, an inheritance
snatched. or an injury received. Then the
Mahdi, having listened. would turn 10 those
standing about and ask whether the judg-
ment should be thus. The Mahdfs sugges-
tion was always approved
The Mahdi at noon had his food carried
outside his hut, and then he withdrew be-
hind hedge to eat; inviting some person
to join him. The father attended these
feasts somewhat unw.llingly- Everything
was eaten with the fingers. and II the
Mahdi found fine piece of meat I'm the
stew he frequently ished IL out with his
fingers and graciously offered 1t 10 the
father. The discourse at meals especially
beloved by the Mahdi was the praise OF
simplicity.
"See," he would say. ''the Turks need
carpets, cushions. and delicate viands. We
need none of these, We sit upon the earth,
eat little simple food and are WE'LL"
Surely, surely answered the guests.
1--WE do WELL
All this. according 10 Father Bonomi, was
mere pretense. The Mahdi In secret ahan-