The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
MAD MULLAH
Stands Seven Feet High, and Is as
Strong as Hercules.
.ome Cor. London Express.

Rome Cor. London Express.
Signor Sylos Sersale. the well-llnown
Italina explorer. has returned to Naples
from Somaliland, where he had inter-
viewed the Mad Mullah.
He was accompanied by General Pesta-
lozza, the Italian Consul-General at
Alden, and their mission was to come
to terms with the Mullah to prevent trou-
BILE in the Italian protectorate.
when Signor Pestalozza and
reached the point on the coast whence
the road turns inward to the hill where
the Mullah and his dervshes were await
ing u.s. said Signor Sersale, 1--WE did not
at first see a single SOUL
accompanied by two interpreters and
guides, we set out on our steep ascent to
our rendezvous, and before long every
where. before us. behind us on either
side, we could discern armed men behind
the rocks. No opposition, however, was
offered us.
on reaching the end OF the ascent we
found ourselves in front of a small fort.
Proceeding past the trenches, we came
on armed men of ferocous aspect. some
mounted, some on foot, and all with
rifles.
ION entering the fort itself we saw
about a hundred yards from us hundreds
of horsemen drawn up In military array.
They were dressed in white cloaks, while
round their shoulders were colored blan-
kets and scarfs of various colors.
'These were the Mulah's Sacred
Guard. They were young men of from
20 to Is years of age. all over six feet in
height, slender In physique and of brave
and proud mien. They ali wore small
turhans of white Italian muslin, the
insignia of dervshes.
I'm the center of this picturesque circle
of warriors was the Mullah himself. He
asked us why we had come to him. and
we explained our mission. Are you not
afraid he asked, to trust yourselves
among the dervishes, who hate and kill
the Christians?'
I'VE replied that we only feared God.
we are Italians we said and Italians
despise life as much as the dervishes.
We are born once; we can die but once.
He invited us to. enter his hut. All the
horsemen dismounted maintaining a
proud but respectful demeanor since
their lord was treating us courteously
1--WE then came to business. I drew
aside for a moment to become to ar
understanding with Hazzi SUM the Null
1ah's Prime Minister. and Hamed Sultan
a Young chief OF the Ogaden country
who had left his small territory to fol-
low the holy cause.
:. In Scia ALA (by Gods Wild they
said II YOU have not died today You will
not for long time. The Mulah has cut
Of the heads of Fnglishmen killed In war
he has decapitated Ahvssinian children
that they might not grow mp to he Chris
tian men And you two white men have
dared to come before this man.
THE Mullah," says Signor Sersale, us
almost feet high and as strong as
Hercules. Unlike other Somalis, who
have little or no hair on the body, he has
"a hairy chest.
s,FIis head is broad and we'll proportions
ed, his forehead. his chin somewhat pro-
truding He wears a long black beard.
..1is eyes. which when discussing bat
tie or slaughter glow with a sinister
light reveal him n ruthless foe
s'When discussing religious questions
his features become less hard. and his
ewes reveal a light of mingled ezaltatior
and mysticism He is frank because he
fears no one"
Everything was arranged with him
and the two Italians afterward left fol-
Alden.