Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-30

Couecteos with an annual oenclt varying
rom million to simtilon and half OF
dollars. which IL met sbysthe Egyptian gov
eminent. Last year, ending June 30. 1908,
the balance to be pads from its treasury
was 600 whichswas nearly a Quarter
receipts for the year OF the Sudan gov
eminent were $2.140sSl5e which was a con-.
siderable increase fromythe previous year
Almost the entire deficit was expended in
important public works. such as railways
felegraphs. irrigation bitches and other per-
manent improvements az great value and
was money well invested
Under the treaty the British and Egyptian
nags are used together land. according to
the policy followed by Lord Cromer in
Egypt. the local authorities are introducing
as many Egyptiansf and natives into the
pubic services as are qualified and as the
circumstances will justify. Here Is an ex-
cellent lesson for our officials in the Phil
tppines to study.
or appears somewhere in the interior FOL
lowed by band Of fanatics who are will
Ing to risk their liberty and even sacrifice
their lives to justify their faith IN the al
vine origin OF some wicked adventures NO
people, except, perhaps, the HindoOs, are so
susceptible to the influence of religious i'm.
posters. Last February a priest named All
Abdul-Kerim proclaimed himself the true
Mahdi, and, being gifted with smooth
tongue and unusual skill as eop5urer. sue
ceeded In performing several feats which
excited public attention and brought to his
support considerable number of ignorant
and innocent people He was promptly ar
rested and placed in JAIL where, to ms own
chagrin and to the establishment of mis- fol-
lowers. the reincarnated Mahomet was COM
PEELED to remain like an ordinary sinner,
with no rescuing hand Of angels and no
miraculous escape. AS matter OF policy
the authorities kept him in prison as pub
ncly as possible in order to convince MS
followers that he was an impostor and to
warn the public against future fakes of the
same kind.
Another Mahdi Overturned.
But although he soon became an object
of contempt and derision, the example was
not very effective for another Mahdi ap-
peared last month ana threatened serious
trouble. He proved to be Tunis adven-
turer named Mahomed Ell Amin, who had
been chief Of a small tribe near the coast
of the Mediterranean, and showed great
intelligence and ability. He was forty years
old. had twice made the pilgrimage TO
Mecca, was convincing orator and mad
the cunning and several other OF the dan
gerous characteristics Of the late Mahd1
If he had been allowed to continue his prop
uganda among the people, which was con-
Quoted en- the same lines as his notorious
forerunner, he would soon have attracted
a large following. He dressed Ia the rich
est silks, covered his face with veil, pre-
tended to go for week without eauhs,
miracles of extraordinary character. dav-
ing acquired all the tricks of the trade, the
zeal and fervor Of q fanatic made MIN an
exceedingly dangerous man. he was cap
tured early In December by an expedition
of cavalry sent up on steamer from
Khartum under Colonel Mahon, the man
who relieved the besieged English garrison
of Mafeking In the Boer war; eno was
promptly tried and hanged.
Lord Cromer expects that other mandis
will appear from time to time, ana zen:
Wingate, the sidar (commander-in-ch1ef) at
Khartum. with his assistants thIougho s
the territory is always on the lookout Tor
them. The people at large, remembering
the despotic and cruel rule Of the late
mahdi. have TERRIBLE dread of these i'm
posters. but the fa4th Of the Mohammedan
is so deeply rooted and. his piety is so sim
cere that he fears to offend even an I'M
poster who proclaims himself the successor
of the prophet.
Lord Cromer sayssds exceedingly satisfac-
tory. The popula ton am gradually begin
ming to understand the scheme of taxation,
and that the money .theYpay to the govern
ment is being juaicioualy expended for
their benefit. They are learning. too. that
the authorities are just and impartial, and
do not intend to irrterfeEs with their happi-
ness. their customs, habits or traditions.
Hence. they submit cheerfully, with con-
f1dence In the coca intentions. of the local
rulers. Lord Croner has himself recently
visited the territory, andsays Improvement
Is visible IN every ulrecepOn, ana Slr RuooII
Won Slatin who has travelled recently over
every province, sreportszthat natives who
were driven into, central Africa, Abyssinia
and other surrounding territories by the
tyranny of the late mahdi are beginning to
return in large numbers to reoccupy the
farms they abandoned and resume their
former occupations. The cities and villages
are rapidly increasing in population, the
cultivated area is being extended f1ocks
and herds are rapidly growing in numbers,
the amount of wool, cotton and other Gull
tivated produce, well the wild natural
products brought to market, shows that in
dustry prevails in the forest and in the
fields.
The revenues were larger last year than
ever before: crime Is decreasing, security
prevails everywhere. and there is general
cooperation from the natives in working
out the problems which lie before the new
government