The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-09-17
THE DERvIsH GOVERNOR


 Our spies report that the Dervishes have been much encouraged by the ex- aggerated accounts of our cholera epi- demic, which the Khalifa sedulously circulates through the country Pro- fessing to believe that Allah is fighting on their behalf, they are displaying un- wonted activity in their preparations to oppose us. Not only have they rein forced their post at Kermeh, above the Third Cataract, but they have con- structed a strong fort at Hafir, on the opposite bank of the river. Small re- inducements have reached Dongola. and Mohammed Wad Bishara still boasts that he will die fighting. As this young man is in command of the forces that will be opposed to us throughout the Dongola campaign, short history of his career may be of interest at the present moment. Slatin Pasha who has keen insight into hu- man character, faculty no doubt sharpened during his long captivity, saw good deal of Wad Bisharn in Omdurman He describes the gover- nor of Dongola as being a tall, sinewy. beardless, handsome man of thirty two, man whose story is worthy of record, as he Is sl typical Mahdist, and in his own short life has exemplified the whole history of Mahdism-its ear ly honest purpose and fanaticism, it's gradual decay it's present degradation. The following is the story as told me by Slatin Pasha;
 Wad Bishara is of the same tribe as the Khalifa-the Taaisha section of the great Baggara tribe-but he is no rela- ton of Abdullahi Bishara's father was a fakir of great piety who taught the Koran to children in a small school. Bishara received his education in this school, but he was high-spirited lad who did not love his book. and though he learned to read In a halting fashion he never acquired the art of writing, and his private secretary now conducts all his correspondence. Bishara's father and the Khalifa's father had been old friends, so when Bishara's father joined the Khalifa at Fl Obeid he was warmly welcomed by the latter, and the young Bishara, who was then in his teens, was at once attached to the person of Osman Wad Adam, the Khalifa's first cousin, as mulazem, or one of his body-guard. Nine years ago Osman Wad Adam, though but two years older than Bishara, was ap- pointed Emir-in- Chef of Darfur and Kordofan, and was thus in command of the whole Army of the West. Rec ognizing the courage and military tal- ent of his protege he placed Bishara in command of rub {the equivalent to our brigade, each Dervish army being divided into four or more rubs), and afterwards made him his second in command of the Army of the West. At this time these two young men were much attached to each other and re- sembled each other in character and habits They were brave fanatics, en- thusiastic pure in their lives, their one object in this world being to fight val iantly for their faith against the unbe- lievers.
 After a short stay in Omdurman, Bishara returned to Darfur with Os- man Wad Adam. In 1890 Osman Wad Adams died, and Bishara was left for a short time in sole command of the Ar my of the West. But the Khalffa was unwilling to intrust so important a post to any but relation of his own, and he accordingly sent his first cous- in, Mahmud Wad Ahmed to supersede Bishara. This was young man of very different character to his prede- cessor. Mahmud Wad Ahmed was a true representative of the decadence of Mahdism. Being of an indoient and luxurious disposition, he readily &C., quired all the vices which had become fashionable in the Khalifa's household and among the aristocracy In Omdur- man. Towards the close of 1890 the troops under Mahmud rose in open mutiny: it was their intention to kill their inca oable chief and all the emirs under him with the exception of Bisha- ra. who vas regarded by all as being the soldiers friend. The mutiny was suppressel, and a great humber of the men were put to death; but the incl dent intensified Mahmud's hatred of Bishara, so that, shortly afterwards, when Mahmud and Bishara went to Omdurman. the latter fmplored the Khalifa to allow him to stay in the capital, es he was unwilling to serve any longer under the governor of Oar Fur. The KhaIifa acceded to this re- quest, aud gave Bishara the command of a rub of his own mulazemin-a body guard O, several thousand picked men, who are quartered within great wall which surrounds the houses of the Khalifa, and his family. The Khalifa' s son, Osinan, was E,mir- of the