, 1900-02-03
THE DEAD 7YRANT
ABDULLAHI, THE KHALIFA,
SUCCESSOR OF THE
MAHDI.
Monster Of Barbarity-His Horrible
Atrocities at Seminar and at Khar-
toom-Was a Strange Mixture Of
Malice and Cruelty-Lived in Con-
slant Mistrust and Fear.

powerfully built man, though in less
than fifteen years time he had lost
his agility, and already in his forty |
ninth year showed signs of age. When
the Mahdi sickened with typhus fever
Abdullahi stayed by his bedside through
day and night, and, with Osman Wad
Ahmed and others, was present at his
death. In his last moments the Mahdil
announced to those around him that.
Abdullahi was appointed by the proph-
ct as the Mahdi's successor. One of
his first acts, after disposing Of threat
ening rivals, was to send four messen-
gers to Cairo with letters addressed
to the queen. the sultan of Turkey, and
the khedive, in which he summoned
them to submit to his rule and adopt
Mahdism. Due note was taken of the
insolent demand, but no answer was
returned, and the Khalifa is described
as having been greatly offended. Soon
afterward he dispatched A~bderrahaman
and Nejumi to take command in an at
tack upon Seminar, and in August, 1885,
the garrison surrendered to him.
The fall of the town was the signal
for a series of brutal atrocities, and a
number of the inhabitants, inclusive
Of all the more presentable young wo-
men and the daughters of the former
government oficials. were sent to the
khalifa, who kept some of the women
for himself and distributed the rest
among his emirs.
He took steps to make 1t understood
among the populace that he meant to
be the one and only ruler, crushing
out any who attempted to oppose his
orders. His methods were illustrated
by the case Of sixty-seven men OF the
vigorous Batahin tribe, who, being con-
demned to death for disobedience, were
divided into three. parties. n section
being hanged and the second decapi-
tated, while the third lost their right
hands and left feet. In order to show
his veneration for the Mahdi he erect
ed at Omdurman over the grave of his
late master q tomb. thirty feet high,
with a dome of forty feet, which stood
a conspicuous landmark until 1t wal
demolished by the sirdar. He made
every effort to bring Arab tribes to
Omdurman, including his own people,
the Taaisha, who immigrated to the
Khalffa's capital in a body numbering
1900 warriors, with their wives and
families, making him master OF the
situation and ready to undertake Of
fensive operations against Egypt and
Abyssinia.
His army was steadily increased, and
a great force was assembled. The bat
tie Of Gallabat followed, 10 which King
John Of Abyssinia was MORALLY wound
ed, and afterward the battle Of Tos-
XII. Early in 1889, before he decided
to send Nejumi to invade Egypt, he
dispatched messengers a seoond time
to convey a warning. They were again
sent back without answer. At the bat
tie Of Toski, which followed, Nejumi
and most Of his emirs were killed and
his forces annihiliated. The further
misfortune Of famine fell upon the
Khalife's country, and entire tribes died
out, thickly populated districts becom-
ing desert wastes. Tho Mahdists, how
ever. carried out an expedition by way
of Fashoda to Ressaf. with the inten-
ton Of capturing Emin Pasha. The
Egyptian garrison Of Reggaf surren-
dered. but Emin had in the meantime
left with Stanley. The northern Dor
ders of Mahdism were considerably ex-
tended. Abdullahi sustained a heavy
blow at Gadaref at the hands of the
Italians, who captured Kassala.
Throughout the wars the Kharifa
pursued the same methods OF inhuman
cruelty which he had exhibited at the
storming of Khartoom, where 1t was he
who gave the order for no quarter. and
who authorized the wholesale massa-
ere Of men, women, and children. He
looked with pleasure upon the most
horrible multilation and execution of
his victims. In the time Of his pros
perNy, when he held Slatin Pasha and
Father Ohrwaldsr in bondage, he kept
up a harem Of over 400 women, from
almost every tribe in the Soudan. oc-
casionally he made an inspection of
his entire household, taking advantage
of the opportunity to rid himself Of
those whom he did not wish to keep.
By bis principal wife he had two sons.