New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-29
THE ARAB NAPOLEON.
RABAH's VICTORIOUS ADVANCE.

RABAHS VICTORIOUS ADVANCE
From The London Chronicle.
Our Liverpool correspondent states that m.
mOrs Of startling kind have been reachin,
him from the Niger through private sources 70,
some weeks past, pointing to the occurrence of
events in the vast MahOmetan States south
OF Lake Tchad. which are bound to have far.
reaching effects throughout the Mahometan
world Of Western Central Africa
Owing to the very serious nature OF thes.
rumors, and to the difficulty OF controlling new,
that does manage to pierce the mysterious ven
Of silence which broOds over the Niger terri
tories, our correspondent has hitherto hesitated
to publish the information; but during the last
few days tn" rumors have been taking definite
shape, and he does not feel justified in with
holding them from publication any longer II
will b" understood that while declining to guar
antee their absolute accuracy. he has the very
best Of reasons for believing the news to Be
correct.
Briefly then. Rabah. the Arab Napoleon
the c-devant follower OF Suleman Zubeir the
conqueror OF Baghirmi and BOrnou. whose
| career Is one OF the most fascinating in African
annals, has invaded the Fulani or FOulah En-.
pire of SOkoto. and after suffering a Sc ious re-
verse at the hands OF the Sultan, has emerged
victorious from the struggle and captured
Kano the great metropolis Of the Western Cen
trail Soudan, where he now reigns supreme The
Sultan OF SOkOto bowling to the inevitable haa
recognized his great enemy az King Of Kan6
The event dates back several months, and hAA
our correspondent Is assured. been known fR
some flne 10 the OHlcialS or the Royal Niger
Company and the British Governmental fact
II MY information Is correct. the Sultan of
, Sokoto was advised by the Royal Niger Com
pany TO recognize Rabah.
A REMARKABLE CAREER
The career Of Rabah Is too varied for the
limits OF a dispatch. but az far cur CORE
spOndent has been able 20 pick up the tangled
threads Of recent Nigerian history. the part be
has played in II is this. After driving out the
Sultan OF Kuka Cat the end OF lS9i), and sub
DUNG a portion at any rate OF the Bornuese,
Rabah rested awhile at Kuka which he made
his capital He subsequently threatened Yoa,
capital Of Odamawa. the most southerly province
OF the Fuan Empire. thus seriously menacing
British influence on the Bnue. secret mis-
sion organized or at any rate approved by the
British Government (the history OF which was
| partly revealed In The Daily Chronicle Of
March 3 STAYED off the danger and ! am told
that what relations have existed between the
Niger company and Rabah from that time
forward have been satisfactory.
But the restless adventurer could not remain
auiescent. He invaded the Sokoto Empire
marched upon Sokoto City, and was defeated
owing mainly to the want OF ammunition. Re
covering he advanced upon kano. overthrow
the Fulani forces and took possession OF the
city. Much additional Information Will be neces-
sary before an adequate estimate can be forned
as TO the results which are likely 10 follow from
this startling event. but in addition to the
| growth OF Rabahs power and prestige which the
capture Of Kano must necessarily bring with II
one fact stands out prominently. the Fuani En-
pire has received a terrible blow.
A FALLING EMPIRE
| For nearly one hundred years ever since 9th
man Fodo overthrow the old and bastard
Haussa states. about 1902. the Fuani have been
| the dominating factor in this part Of AFRICA,
which they converted to Mahometarism. Alien
| In race. superior In intelligence and ORGANIZING
power they seem To have ruled at the time OK
| their early successes with rod OF iron. but
| power has generated Incidence, wealth and de-
moraliZation. and OF late years the Fulanl nave
| greatly deteriora ted and the military genius OF
| Rabah has apparently been too much In kano.
The Arab Napoleon has secured a rich prize
| London is not more known throughout the Con-
tinent Of Europe than is Kano throughout the
Soudan Ciapperton and Barth have left rec
ords Of its marvellous richness and prosperity
Monteil who visited IL In 1894. estimates the
| nxed population at 6oOO0: Robinson. who went
| there eighteen months afterward, al lVuUu
| while the former deems that the number OF peo-
pie who pass through Il in the course o.. the year
| exceeds two millions. Kano is the great en-
porium OF the kola nut. and exports QUANTITIES
| Of specially manufactured cloth dyed a deep IN
| digo blue which IL famous throughout Africa
| from Tripoli to Lagos.