Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-30
LAND OF FL MAHD|
Present Government Of the
Sudan.
RULE OF THE BRITISH
LORD cRoMER REPORTS THE SIT
UATIoN SATISFACTORY.
Cities and Villages Rapidly Increasing
in Population-Extending the
Cultivated Area.
RULE OF THE BRITISH
nv WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM SOAsAAS'
Sps cial Correspondence Of The Evening star a"a
Chicago Record Herald
CAIRO. Egypt December 81, 1908.
What "a known as the Soudan. or Sudan
there are several ways Of spelling the
names of places down here-lies south OF
Nubia. between Abyssinia and the great
desert, and is watered by the two principal
branches of the Nile. It extends south
ward to the Belgium provinces OF the
Kongo. a distance Of about 1000 miles, 10
within five degrees Of the equator, and mas
an area Of about LOCO, 900 square miles and
a population of $500, 600. The chief towns
are Khartum Cor Khartoum), the capital
with population Of 10000: Omdurman'
the old Deryish capital, with population
of 4S 1000, and a dozen other cities Of 15,OOO
and less.
Along the branches Of the Nile the SOIL
is rich and similar to that of Egypt, ana
might produce enormous crops OF sugar
and cotton. Toward the southwark the
desert becomes a jungle, and vast forests
line the banks of the rivers on both sloes,
containing the most valuable caplhes
woods, including an abundant supply OF
ebony, india rubber, gum and other trees
and plants The higher attitudes along the
Abyssinian boundaries are capable OF pro.
ducing wheat, corn and all the staples OF
the temperate zone. The heat OF the sun
and the. elevation. combined. produce
abundantly of whatever may be planted.
The greater portion of the area, however
is uninhabited except by nomadic savage
and semi tribes. The settled pop
ulation, SO far as may be estimated. Is
about 100000, a little more than third
of the whole, and 1t is scattered along the
banks Of the Nile between the third cat
aract and Khartum. Before the Dervish
revolt, the recent war IN the SUDAN
Cd lor W r.
ried on with Cairo and Alexandria In gold
dust, ivory, ostrich feathers, gums. rub
Der, hides, skins. ebony and other cab
met woods in exchange for arms. am
munition, cotton fabrics, cheap hardware,
tobacco. liquor and simple agricultural
implements and mechanical tools.
AS I told you in previous letter, q
railway runs all the way from Cairo to
gap, which is now being filed, and the
Journey can be made in about six days at
a cost Of about 800. Freight rates from
Alexandria to Khartum are from $50 to
$50 per ton. A railway Ia also being con-
structed from Berber, the second most I'M
portant city in the Sudan, to the port
of Suakim, on the Red sea, distance OF
about $50 miles, which will be of the great
est benefit to the people and Of supreme
Importance in the development Of the re-
sources of the country. 1t will shorten
the transportation distance to tdewater
from seven days to ten hours and make
chinery and heavy freight of all kinds.
One of the great difficulties in railway
transportation Is the absence of water.
Every train that goes to the Sudan or
comes away must carry five full tank cars.
1t is said that no locomotive ever starts
for Khartum or comes away from that
place without hauling It's weight in water.
Ell Mahdi's Rebellion.
AS you will perhaps remember, the ad-
ministration of affairs in the Sudan by
Egypt was interrupted in 1882 by rebel
lion Of the natives, led by Ell Mahdi,
false prophet, or messiah. who claimed d.
vine powers and authority. The Moham-
medans believe in a second advent. They
expect the prophet to come again to reign
upon earth in glory, and that has
caused the appearance from time to time
during the last ten centuries of impostors.
pretenders and false prophets, who have
been known as Mahdis. Some of them have
been insane; others have been ambitious
cOnspiratOrs; some have been soldiers, but
ally the Mohammedan priesthood has been
able to take care Of them without the in
PREVENTION of the government
But the Mahdi who appeared in 1882 was
a remarkable man; remarkable for his
ability, his magnetic influence, his military
genius. his audacity and his ambition. And
almost before the authorities at Cairo real
lied the seriousness Of the situation he had
Drought 10 MS support nearly every MO-
hammedan in the Sudan: had won over
the priesthood, and even the native officials
and native soldiers, and had so impressed
himself upon the public that his claim to
divinity was generally accepted and he
was worshiped a god, as well as obeyed
as a sovereign. Being a dervish priest or
monk, his supporters became known as
dervishes in the common parlance of the
country. Even to this day the small scat
tered bands of his followers who survived
him and have maintained their liberty are
known as dervishes. although that word
can properly be applied only to religious
professionals.
Ell Mahdi made the city Of Omdurman his
capital and lived there In great splendor
and luxury when not actually In the field
at the head of his army. He organized
a complete government. collected taxes is-
sued currency, established courts conduct
ed barking business and set up independ-
ent ecclesiastical authority against the
Sultan of Turkey, who is the nominal head
of Islam. His military force was at one
time we'll organized armed and equipped
In which he had the assistance of ex-
perienced European officers. including sew
eral Englishmen and a large number of
educated Egyptians. He put up a great
fight and to subdue him cost England an
enormous sum of money and thousands of
precious lives. With the exception of the
recent war in South Africa it was the
toughest military task John Bull has ex-
perienced since the fall of Napoleon. And
Ell Mahdi might have maintained his power
treachery and self-indugence He became
a sybarite AS he acquired power and
wealth he surrounded himself with lux
uries, and INDUCED in designations which
not only weakened his vitality but injured
his influence with the people, for they had
intelligence enough to realize that no re-
spectacle god or messiah would behave as
he did.
The most notable event of the war was
the sacrifice of that splendid soldier and
ideal gentleman. General Charles Gordon.
who was sent into the Sudan by the Brit
sh government because of his popularity
among the natives and his influence over
them. But he could do nothing and with
his escort was massacred in the palace of
Khartum For long time his fate was a
mystery. and when 1t became known the
instincts of revenge and the duty of teach
ing the doctrine of retribution inspired ey-
cry soldier In the British army until Lord
Kitchener, in September. 1898 after strug-
gle Of two years. recovered the Sudan for
Egypt. The Mahd, In the meantime had
died from the effects of dissipation and in
diligence and had been succeeded by the
Khalifa, who fled but was overtaken by the
British cavalry in November, 1885, and
slain in battle.
Government Of the Sudan.
Since that date. under treaty between
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