The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-11
THE KHALTFA AND HIS POWER.
Importance In the Moslem World OF the
Victory of Gen. Kitchener.

Mohammedan world. for there is nothing
which the Moslem rulers of the present day
fear more than the establishment of the uni
versal rule Of a Mahdi.
According to Moslem theology. n ruler who
shall be known IA H-Mahdi. or the rightly
directed one, leader or guide" shall appear in
the last days upon the earth. The people OF
Persia hold that this Mahdi has already APP.
peared in the person of Abul Kasim, the
twelfth Imam, who IL believed to he concealed
until the day of his manifestation before the
end Of the world. But the Sunni Moslems Of
India, Turkey. Egypt, Afghanistan and Arabia
say that he has not yet appeared, and conse-
quently they arc in expectation of the appear
ance OF some great leader who will weld to-
gether the forces OF Islam and conquer the
whole earth.
The sayings Of the Prophet ON this subject
are somewhat notable. For example, he Is
related TO have said THE Mahdi will be de-
scended from me. He will be u wan with an
open countenance and with u high nose. He
will I'LL the earth with equity and justice, even
as it has been filled with villainy and oppres-
sion. and he will reign over the earth seven
years..
1t was in accordance with this prophecy
that Mohummed Ahmed. the Mahdi of the Sou
dan, asserted his right to the dignity Of
Mahdi. He was born in Dongolo Of IA poor
aud obscure family. but said he was descend
ed in direct line from Fatima. the Prophets
daughter. When a child he was taken by his
father to khartoum. where as a young man
lie gave himself up entirely to religious eXer-
cises. As the outcome Of certain local dis
turbances he became an important leader OF
the people and eventually declared himself
the Mahdi. His prestige. especially in the
eyes of the Arabs. rose enormously. and let
tiers were despatched in all directions pro-
claiming the fact that, according 10 the say
ings of the Prophet. the Mahdi had appeared.
ing such miracles as placed his identity be-
yond dispute. This was the man who in
for his death. The .cruelties and atrocities,
perpetrated II the massacre which followed
d9 Hnf T. t death miS IRE d Sey i6is r deisGri ~ terror the
Mahdi was seized with typhus fever, and
shortly before his death he nominated Alb
dulluh az his Khaliia, or Vicegerent. This is
the man who is nov. being pursued by the Brit
Ish cavalry. and, whose capture will probably
put al. end TO the. difficulties in the soudan.
Slatin Pasha describes him as a man of middle
stature. with II light-brown complexion, a sym.
ss, %,nIal1.c are tgra," ag1 nH an TSuaimiIine nose a Well
shaped mouth, slight ,mustache. and a fringe
u hair on his checks. bus rather thicker on his
which, are visible when he smiles. The Khali-
fa's pride and confidence in his own powers
that he was capable Of doing ANYTHING and
everything. as he said he acted solely by Di-
Kth hi uddressed q letter = to the queen Of Eng
land. requesting her Majesty to submit to
his rule and embrace Islam.
His character is u StranEe mixture Of malice
and cruelty. He delights To annoy and cause
disappointment, and Is never happier, than
ing and executing all persons Of influence and
authority. 1t was this Abdullah who gave the
order for no Quarter at the storming OF hhar-
Mahdi, who authorized the wholesale massa-
ere of men, women and children ut the fall Of
fl,... IN Hin hs.a a alAA fhIA .llAfhu. nj than
sands ii innocent people. and Slatin Pasha says
hat when he was ln pris4n the khaii T. had the
publicly cut of IN the market place because he
had been unsuccessful in an expedition. But
in spite Of his tyrannical nature he is said 70
now a young man Of - years of age.
The Khalira's larem consists of 400 wives.
In accordance with the law OF Islam he has
four legal wives. but, according to this law. he
is allowed to have any number OF con aubines.
light brown to deepest black and represent
nearly every tribe in the Soudan: These wo-
s n6e1 are with ihNh the e outer world SH5 on ana iro dou IMiers
have hailed with Joy the arrival ofthe British
During his residence at Omdurman the
khalifa conducted the public. prayers five
times 4 day according TO the injunetions Of
prayers he would sit i'll the niche of the
mosque and receive visitors: On these occa-
5 s[onT ES Sey ies w tn9I7 ian Hsr would narot 6G present pr sslaet ana
persons whom he desired to honor;
Every Friday at midday prayer the Khalifa
would preach n. sermon in Arabic, beginning
friends Of the .Mahdi," 49,.
The Khallfa is really a Wahhabi in his relig-
ious sentiments. and consequently he re-
CARDS many current customs OF Islam as idol
wearing Of silken garments and gold orna-
ments.
lected Omdurmnn as Il temporary camp. but
the Khalifa made it the sacred city of the Mos
lens and regarded the tomb Of the Mahdi rs
Prophet at Medina, The city covers the
length Of about six English miles and consists
The great mosque is a brick Building about 800
yards long and $50 yards broad. The
Mahdi's tomb, is II domed building white.
closure OF the, Khalifo's palace, which iy sur
The town Of Ondurman is built for the
most part on fairly leycl, ground, but here and
ihere are a few snail hllls; The population 2t
tribes. The Arabs live in the southern quar-
ters and the Nile Valley people in the north
been dug, and while those in the southern
quarter. Of the city are mostly brarkish. there
arr, IA few wells ninety feet in depth which
yield very good water.
The common city prison is that in which
Charles NSnieid hhs spent 50 many years. SUP,
kept alive by the occasional supplies which
reached him through the black servants he
brought with him from Egypt, With the ex-
ception of Sister Theresa Grigolini. the Roman
Catholic missionaries succeeded in escaping.
but the British conquest Of the. city has
brought freedom to both DR.. Neuield and Sis
The state Of things in Omdurman for the
last ten years or 50. has been Il disgrace to
Christian Europe. If the great powers OF Eu-
rope could act AS one man. against the com
bined influences Of the seIni-sayage armies Of
the Soudnn such Il condition of things, ns that
which has existed in Omdurman would not be
endured, But, as matters now stand. the
armies of Christendom do not show a united
front. and; consequently, every Mohammednn
ruler in the world. whether he be- the sultan
OF Turkey, the Bcy Of Morocco. the Ameer Of
Gabul, the shah Of Persia. the sheriff Of Mecca
self. considers IL his first religious duty to
pray and work for the ~snbjugation OF the
world TO the religion Of the Prophet. Gen;
Kitchener's victory over. the Dervlshes, vii!
strike terror into every Moslem army and will
be II set-off against that conquest of TheSsaly
which. undoubtedly induced the Moslems on
the Afghan frontier to combine for the de-
s]truction of Christian power in Central Asia.
Carried by Their superior Officers.
Fran NE IOHihs Companion.