The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-12
THE .JEHAD.

The attention Of the civilized world 10
likely to be directed during the next year
or so to what just now looks like q cam
paign OF conquest by . small body Of En-
glish troops over few nomadic tribes in
the soudan. Every sign points to q most
critical condition and the Inauguration Of
fierce conflict between a Christian power
and Moslemism. The "Jehad' or Holy
war. 80 long looked for by the followers Of
ish sultan In the hours OF their greatest
danger. during Lord wolseley's campaign
in 1854 and 1885. had dared to call forth.
has At length been proclaimed by the or
ders Of tho only man who, according 10
Koranic tradition and prophecy. is quail
fed to take such a STEP namely the Ma
hometan Messiah. senoussi ell Mahdi Ac-
oordins TO tradition. the great revival Of
tho Mahometan faith was to be brought
about by . Mahdi or Messiah who was to
make his appearances In the thirteenth
hundred year of the Hegira-that is. A. d.
Isss sidi Mad Ell Senoussi fulalls all the
conditions. He attained his majority in
1853, and before the death In that year OF
his father. the founder OF the great Sem
oussi order. he was solemnly proclaimed
tho true Messiah or ell Mahdi. by which
title he Is now known throughout the Ma
hometan world. His headquarters are at
Jerdoub. on the shores of Lake Faregda.
In Tripoli. which place is fortified By over
100 guns. besides twenty German mitrali-
ieuses. He claims TO have AT his command
about SoOs.o0o Mahomeians. the greater
portion Of whom. being more or less subject
to Christian powers. dream of nothing but
OF the universal empire promised by the
Koran. Their sole aim Is holy war with
neither truce with nor mercy for the in
ndeis. against whom they have an In
tense hatred. fostered during many gen.
erations
Members OF the Senoussl order are for
hidden TO speak TO. salute or trade with
either Jews or Christians. and II is per-
misslhle 10 rob and kill at all times and in
all places any jew or Christian who is not
subject OF a Mahome,an government
Members of the order possessed OF over SIS
thereon, IN addition 70 vast donations by
enthusiasts OF hard. cattle. slaves and
money, besides liberal subsidies granted by
the Turkish. Egyptian and Tunisian gov
ernmen,s. The order is. therefore. TN
menseiy wealthy. ana adds 10 It's resources
by partaking In the commerce OF the tri-
hutary territory. Not only does the order
possess all these riches ana control I'm
menss bodies OF fanatical members. but IL
has n system by which II receives news
and transmits orders 70 every par; OF the
Mahome'sn world. The rspidity with
which news IL transmitted has more than
once excited the astonishment OF the Brit
ish authorities. To such a perfection are
| the means Of communication carried
among the Arabs that the Beacuins az the
| pyramids o. Gaseh announced the massacre
| OF Col Stewards party q. Nerawi and
| the fall Of Kharteum nearly = week before
| the official news OF II reached Cairo In
the same wsy the scnssrimen, OF Ber-
her. the surrender OF Tokar. and ire mas
sacre at Sinks, were known IN ere ha-sars
| OF Cairo long before the of4c,si news was
received by the Anglo Egyptian suthori-
| ties.
| The British government r. beginning %
| realize the gravity o, the situation. Tns
developments OF the pas, week have LED
20 the belle, that there mus; ee some un-
| Outstanding between the suttan's govern
rnent and the Dsrv'sh leaders IN the Sou
| san Reports which were circulated some
| time age ara 20 which no Importance was
attached at the time. Justify ,hs convtc-
| ton tNsg negotiations have long eeea IN
| progress between .he sultan AMI osraar
| pisna a cne-srrued French renegade. who
| Is considered tire most successful gen.
| srai and most able leader OF the pervf- \
| army Although all Massalraans recosnsrs
the civil authority ~ the sultan. his pcwe,
| - insignificant compared vish tia; Of shs
spiritual head es the church ., he prcpAe,
| The raahdt Is regarded vita suca veae-a.
| tlcn ths; he 10 called re MALTA Or lieu
tenant OF C;<sd' lie h always veilea waes
re leaves his privacy. N order that ties.
| who approach hirn shall not ee aaEziea ~
| the divine rasiarcs Of his features n.
perfect eesdleace required Of AZ nss f0l-
lowers 10 shown BY The command sassa