The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-19

son Of a slave whose history reeds like romance.
for he has risen in a few years from nothing TO a
position Of despotic power over millions Of PEG
pie and Ii today the most powerful native ruler
In tropical Africa,
twas an easy matter for France, England and
Germany TO divide his territory among them on
paper. but they will fnd him the hardest nut to
crack they have picked up in Africa when they
Try TO take effective possession of the country.
The world has heard little Of Rabah's triumphant
progress far westward. but it was known that no
had ovarthrown the rulers Of vast native states,
ono after another. and called himself. not only
Sultan, but the Mahd This article tells what
Is known Of tho remarkable history Of Rabah and
Of the means by which he has acquired and main
taincd his power. The map shows the empire
he has carved out for himself and the places and
regions chiefly identified with the history he has
made. To make his rise aud progress clearly un-
derstood II will be necessary. first to refer 10 some
events that occurred before he became the leading
figure in affairs.
In 1874. Ismail Pasha, the Egyptian Governor
Of Khartoum, after short and sharp campaign.
annexed TO Egyptian territory the large coun.
tries Of Darfur and Oar Fcrts lie received pow
erful assistance in this conquest from wealthy
slave dealer and trader named Zebahr who had
immense slave depots In the Province OF Bahr-
el-Ghazal and large bands Of armed men who
went on his slave catching raids To recon-
pensc Zcbahr for his valuable aid Egypt made
him Mudir Of the Chekka Province and gave
him rank OF Bey. He went to { afro TO be invested
with his title. leaving the government Of his
province in the hands Of his son Suleiman. who
Intoxicated by the power he now welded and
licensed by orders from khartoum 10 cease his
raiding for slaves. allied himself with the de
throned Sultan of Darfur and attacked the Egyp.
han posts When this news reached afro Icbahr
Was thrown into prison and has never been per.
Ia II. he Som dan
-, Then Gcssi Pasha, whom Gordon had made
Governor Of the Equatorial Province. was sen,
Bahrel Ghazai and Darfur where tho Khcdiyc's
authority had again fallen into the hands Of
he prevented Sulciman and he deposcd Sultan
oi Dartur from uniting their forces, defeated each
chief execud tsa and t%"k up his TedenSe in
Zebahrs great slave depot at Dem Siber IL
WAS at This point that the person. ferocious and
fifteen years has made himself an all powerful
autocIat and, is IN" subject Of this article, ap-
Rahab, the son Of a slave. was Il foster brother
Of Zebahr with whom he was reared He fought
against Gcssi with Suleman but more fortunate
The rear guard Of Splciman's army and 100 rifles
These guns were tho basis on which he rosc Ia
power The slave raiders had been suppressed
With heavy hand in the Egyptian Soudan.
30 he decided 10 enter virgin fields and make an
empire OF his own. His thoughts and arms were
nrst turned 10 the Congo basin, in the southwest
and he invaded the country Of the Banda and
drsns them s SsS ne a.. hR nc s
tho failure u his conmissary department induced
him TO change his plans lie had little food aud
turned % the I @I% an m a sGSh SO
out his empire in that direction. abandoning
eUn oS2 bs sa% s S TTnE
and that small potcntar surrendered with all
his guns and munitions; which added 80 much
very fair material To RahHb's arsenal that from
mis- period in 1884 may be dated the real poser
., the advsnTircr: and 50 he went on his conaucr.
and guns with every forward movement, he made
lie Is. Of course, very unusual parsonage
cess He proved himself To b. organizer Of
the first order He has never made an advance
control in the regions already invaded. His first
care in establishing himself in new country
lie has added their guns TO his stock has treated
IN. imprisoned soldiers kindly and finally en-
ihsm a iu share Of The success and piaaisr Oh
tained in the succeeding advances He has
them, Kindness and cruelty alike have been
exercised without stint 70 augment his authority
were left in charge Of every conquered region
and were responsible 70 him for the iealty Of their
tory, over which he has assumed authority since
ne began his march remains IN his possession
has paid him iaxcs from tho time he asserted his
rule e. over them Every child ,ha, has ben born
The edict went forth that the parents OF each
new born child should scar each cheek near the
This sign means that the person bearing II il has has
been from his birth subject Of the Sultan Rabah
and the peln'ty for failure thus TO mark all children
Rabah's progress was interrupted by long halts
whi:s ne set 1, up his OWL government over each
mo, Until iSs that he p5H"Gh'db The sui
ance with the ruler Of Bornu with a view to OK
eI,ns all their power to crush ihs invader The
the ruler OF Bagirmi, and Rabah improved this
oopportunity 10 thrash them separately. The
offering battle 10 Masscnga, and Rabah, soskine seeking,
nrst his more powerful foe pushed right past
capital Knka. The head OF The, dccaying dy'
nasty Of Bornu found il impossible to offer sefi
head Of his thousands Of followers inspired with
N nss s Sn IL Ut the s1p d. sta, e their chief
ssp. Mssh RoI mSr the so Of the ppuons
Rbsh was esaSsed a, Eo. sn ns SsA p @
Tchad, and this place is the seat OF his power
,r, Lhen ne b., c"naueroT rapidly oyerran Bornu,
These towns are the heads OF the caravan routes
,So1nh across , the Sahara 70 Trp9 Having
der Essme "nSo"ra s'Ssp somn. aS
larger the taxes that pour into his treasury. He
sent out caravans across the Sahara laden with
ivory, ostrich feathers and other treasures Of The
Soudan, and they brought back 10 him large
supplies OF every description including quantities
~ ammunition and many guns In the capture
Of kuka he secured q large treasure and many
munitions OF war Thus his lcsSening supplies
oil war material were replcnished and with his
1uDSoluent purchases II is said that he can keen
In the field an army 80, 900 strong
Ra6ah has not yet attacked wadai, which is
now The only state not subject 10 him between
INC Egyptian Soudan and Lake Tehad II has
n APT AZ, retained lis independence thus far,
no, on account Of its power and the strength of lis
army but because easier conqueStS further west
nave Kept Ra6ah lar from Wadai This sultan