The Republican., 1895-10-31
THE UNHAPPY SOUDAN.
Return of Semi-Civilized Race to a Con-
ditlon of Barbarism.

u
ditlon of Barbarism.
A very curious instance of the return
Of quite civilized country to state
of barbarism is afforded by the Soudan,
in Central Africa, vivid description Of
which has been given before the geo
graphical congress in London by Slatin
Pasha. This officer had been in the
service of Egypt, and, meeting Gen.
Gordon in 1876, was shortly afterward
offered position in the Soudan, that
of governor general of the province of
Dan Fur. The fact of the Mahdi upris-
| ing was an item of news at the time,
and the fate of Gen. Gordon had been
for long time an interesting matter
for discussion. 1t was finally decided
that he was dead, but Slatin Pasha, es-
capped from captivity, brings to Europe
the first authentic information about
him. The story which this officer and
explorer presented was one of the most
dramatic features of what proved to be
most remarkable congress, and his
audience included the best known of the
worlds explorers, not of Africa alone
but of the entire globe.
mo European can venture to cross
the limits of this land, cut off from civ
ilization," said Slatin Pasha, extend
ing in the south along the Nile to Beg
jaf and east to west from Kassala to
near Wadai. Death or lifelong cap
tivity would be his lot. Yet it is only
within short period of ten years that
the land has been subjected to this mis-
cradle fate. For more than sixty years,
since the time of Mohammed Ali it re-
manned under the rule of Egypt and
was open to civilization. In the chief
towns were found Egyptian and Eu-
ropean merchants; in Khartoum itself
the foreign powers had their repre-
sentatives."
Travellers of all nations could pass
through the land unharmed and found
protection and help through these rep
resentatiyes. Telegraphs and regular
postal service facilitated intellectual
intercourse with the most distant coun-
tries. AIohammedan mosques, Chris
tian churches and mission schools
looked after the religious and moral
training of the young
The land was peopled by diverse
tribes, many of which lived in hostility
with each other, but all were compelled
by the severity of the rule to keep the
peace. Like the oriental countries, the
officials sought to enich themselves as
quickly as possible, and discomfort was
fostered thereby, while SO far as the
EC,opeans were concerned, they no
doubt ignored at times the legends and
traditions of the Soudanese. and in
this way excited some measure of ill
will.
"Mohammed Akmed knew and tool;
advantage of the mood of the country
! continued Slatin Pasha. "Well know
ing that only religious factor could
unite the hostile tribes, he maintained
that he was the Mahdi sent by God,
the deliverer of the country from a
foreign yoke, the regenerator of reli-
gion. He reused the tribes to war
against the government, promised his
adherents, in case of victory, four
fifths of the booty to the survivors.
Thus were fanaticism and avarice, the
two chief qualities of the Soudanese,
awakened"
Slatin Pasha was kept prisoner for
eleven years in the heart of the Soudan,
escaping the present year only after in
credible hardships and dangers, being
the first man to bring to civilized Eu-
rope a statement of the condition of
the Soudan and proof of the murder OF
Gen. Gordon.-Happy Thoughts.