The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-08-21
Interesting Career Of Leader Of
British Troops.
LIFE INFLUENCED BY GORDON
Horrors of Captivity Under the
Khalifa - VIII Head the Fight
TO Regain Lost Ground = Eng
land Must Hold the Sudan.

Inc following Interesting TeNleW vi
the life of Slatin Pasha in the Dark
Continent is given in a recent issue OF
the Victoria Colonist:
The sound of the ombeya-the Su-
danese war horn, made from an ele-
plants Iusks-was for years chal-
lenge to which Slatin, at the head of
his brown and black soldiers, cheerfully
responded. AT that time during the
four years from 1879 to 1889 he was
military governor of Darfur, and clev
erly held the province for his employer,
the Egyptian Government. But during
the twelve next following years (1SS3
TO 1880 the same potent and melan-
choly notes gave warning of the eXpe
ditions OF his own companions, for he
was the Dervishes captive and the
Khalifa' s servant. Last year he escaped
and today he is with the Anglo Egypt
ian forces advancing up the Nile. He
is again to penetrate that most outland-
ish inland, that region of the elephants
tusk war horn, the bloody heart of the
Dark Continent.
recall the fact that he was a lieuten-
ant in the Austrian army, serving in the
regiment of the unfortunate Crown
Prince Rudolf, when General Gordon
wrote inviting him 10 try his luck in
Central Africa The invitation was ac-
cepted, and as soon as his engagements
permitted Slatin placed himself at Cor
don's disposal.
Evidently the beginning was full of
interest, of exhilaration. Gordon him
self was an uncommonly attractive
man-warmAhearted, cool-headed, gen
erous if not reckless of purse and per-
son; moving so rapidly from place to
place wherever his presence was re-
quired, that he baffled the combinations
Of his enemies, YET, when the fight was
at its worst, finding time to light a Gig
arctic. Stimulated by Gordon's eX-
ample, upheld by his friendship, SIatin
took the first steps in career that
promised a very great and very quickly
earned reward. He was in high spirits.
When he had headache and a native
doctor who had been called in to attend
him squeezed the sufferers head be-
tween his black hands, and, to exercise
the headache devil, spat in the patients
face, Slatin could see the humor of it,
after he had knocked the doctor down.
And with not less genial tolerance he
could remark that sulphur was one of
the choice perfumes of the country
and that in some of his campaigns, al
though the field Of operations lay be-
tween the 10th and 18th degrees, his
troops suffered from the intense cold.
Everything seemed to be coming his
way, and presently he found himself in
an important command as Governor
General of the province of Darfur. Then
commenced the difficulties and reverses
to understand which we must take note
of the political situation.
EGYPTIAN POLITICAL SITUATION.
For more than sixty years the Egypt
ians and Turks had held the Sudan.
From Darfur, in the extreme west, 10
Abyssinia n the east, and as far south
as Equatorial, roughly speaking, their
sway extended. Military and trading
posts had been established, the roads
were comparatively safe for travel, for
eign missionaries were al their work
and TO enthusiasts it seemed that the
Sudan would be the starting point for
civilizing and Outstanding the whole
continent. To the gods it seemed 9TH
erwise. Two great mistakes had been
made-taXation was both excessive and
inequitable, and the slave trade (the
very spice of African life, the very SAVIOR
of salt TO it, and the zest in its every
enterprise) was discouraged Well
there was no question about the discon-
tent that this impolicy lad aroused.
Discomfort was patent and almost uni
versal; there were stormy outbreaks
from time to time, but there was no
storm center. The Sudanese are Arabs
and blacks belonging TO many tribes
and nations, living as though still in
pages Of the OLD Testament or the
Arabian Nights, without single mod
ern idea of cooperation or confedera-
ton.
Such was the state OF things that
made an opportunity for Mohammed
Ahmed, a religious sheik, who styled
himself the Mahdi-Prophet of God,
next TO Mohammed, in all history the
most important person but one. Il de-
stroy this world and l construct the
world to come,' said the Mahdi. And
again, in conversation: Drink OF the
water of my words, and that will be of
inestimable benefit to you. Self-con-
ident, virile, magnetic, this Mohammed
Ahmed imposed himself upon the peo-
pie, an obsession put in place of an OPP
preston. A mighty wave OF fanaticism
gathered, black, combining with re-
ligious frenzy. He preached a doctrine
the people could understand and he
promised their hearts desire. Certain
irksome restraints were enjoined. it is
true; tobacco and alcoholic drinks were
forbidden; but he did not scrutinize
ike Pharisee nor practice TOO right
eously. In private life he and his offic-
ers allowed themselves every excess,
and the pet weakness Of the Sudanese,
far from being restrained, was encour-
aged, and he proclaimed holy war.
Slatin implies that AbdulIaai. the
khalifs. next in authority and in order
OF succession, the present ruler of the