The sun., 1900-12-09
IS ISLAM REVlVlN CT

,ursrtrs>s fENTs 'HpNs I'0'00o'
OoO yIssTIUiNs ~ ~ "o"hO'
v,.., Ar. U,,Id-d into surnis ana sh'shs.
Ia, ue,.r,i, These sect. Have hesn
ut,.Ina closer Possible ""s'""s
for the sultan, Atu'v INC """'"so
10 Mecca vii incr'''" W" 'o"f'
I, co,rca ratAc- IKE revelation 10 find
rat the Turkish Government or. perhAps "
might ba moro correct I" say IA" Nntlh'
Ia. been ENGAGED in collecting staUNu's
sh,ving the Mus-u,mAn population III various
rnrta ~ the world The result has Just been
uuhllshed and in Wow ~ tll" p"sSlple "hl'ct
,fthc undertaking. i ot consld"ranI" interest
In tho domintou4 under tho personal rule ~
the sultan the Mrs-glm0ns ar" stated ~
tsn,,llp while iu the contiguous states and
territories in Asia. in.uding Persia, Nfghnh-
istan. Bclo oh,tan. India. Russian Tnrk's'an
and CHINA, their numbers are e'tm'td ht
Vo.Ooo.oO Africa, where the Mohamm'uail
religion has made great strides Ia the last hal'
Of tho century, l. credited with 36.5'o"')
followers Of the Prophet, and 2J.oo'op are
described ~ inhabiting other countries ana
the islands OF the Eastern seas II does not
appear that the total Of these figures 49,
SoO,oo0 Is exaggerated. as recent estimates
have placed the Mussulman population OF
the world at close upon 2))ooo.OOp'
The Islamic world, however. Is divided
reliviously into two sections, the vast ma
jority being Sunnis. and tho minority. prinei-
pally in Persia. being Shiahs. who hold more
or less aloof from the Sunns. OF whom the
Sultan Of Turkey IL the nominal head as
Csliph Of Islam. The Mussulman popula-
tion Of India under the political rule OF the
British Government and In the native states
NAV be set down in round numbers at nearly
90. 100000 By far the greater part OF these
are sunnls. as are also the AfThans and the
Turcomans The Chinese Mohammedans.
who are mostly found in Kashgatia. Mon
golia, Yunnan and Kansuh, are very variously
estimated, some authorities. basinG their
calculations on data furnished by Chinese
officials for the whole Empire. placing them as
high as 10000. 600 These, like all the other
followers of Islam belonging TO the Sunni
section. are In direct communication with
Mecca, though having little political affinity
with Constantrople This Ia due in great
part to the lethRrgy Of the Turkish char
soter and the internal troubles cf Turkey
that called for the concentration Of the Sui
tan's attention on his own home affairs.
But recent events have enabled him To look
somewhat outside tho immediate circle OF
his own domnions. and among the things
which he has done has been ~ take stock Of
the forces over which In certain eventualltes
he might exercise some control
It ia now little time since he entered into
akind Of alliance with the Sero, ss who holds
svayin the Central Soudan.and quite recently
thsre has been remarkable exchange of
amenities between the Sultan and the Shah
of Persia whose territories march side by
g. IA ,F v,iiaa n Ael
With tho Mussulmans OF India and Russian
Trrkestan close relations have existed for
several years, and a friendly intercourse is
kept UP with KabIl. the development OF the
Russian railway system In Asia bringing the
most remote communities within easy reach
Of the political and religious centres OF their
faith. For a number OF years the British
Government has kept a watchful eye on the
growing intimacy OF the relations between
the Nussilm1ns OF India and Constantinople.
and on one OCCASION the presence OF some
Turkish emisslres In India was the occasion
OF a sharp passage Mt arms between the Brit
ish representative at Constantinople and the
sultan The Russian Government also last
wear found itself suddenly confronted with a
threatened rising OF its Mussuman subjects
in eastern Turkcstan but IL was quickly
suppressed The source OF tho trouble was
never HCclTttelN HScsTbtlutu, SDIlo VI bHo
Russian p lpers ascrbing It 10 Constantinopls
and some to Simla.
Connecting the two important facts Of tho
comparative energy with which the Sultan
Is pushing on the construction Of the railway
through Palestine to Mecca and his recent
demonstrating of the Mussulman world. it Is
quite evident that no Ia watching events and
getting ready. in his way. for eventualites.
The aggressiveness Of the Christian govern
ments and missionary organizations In all
non-Christian countries Is no doubt one OF
the animating causes of the Sultans action.
He desires to concentrate In his own hands.
as far as II Is possible. the power Of resistance
contained in the mass represented by 49,
500 900 OF Mussulmans, and by means of the
railway 10 Mecca he purposes to retain the
permanent control Of the holy places Of Islam
on which his authority as Callph Is based,
Amid the uncertainties Of the general po-
litical condition of Europe he rlay think he
disCerns an opportunity TO enable Islam 10
reEssert itself. and is preparing accordin sly,