Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07
THE REFUSAL OF 4 GROWN.

There are economical as well as political
lessons In looking backward over the pages
of history on which are writ
Lessons OF ten the dethronement and
History. exile Of kings. The past
century, not to look back
| farther, begins it's record with Napoleon l
| in exile at st. Helena: with Joseph, King OF
Naples and Spain, who died in exile at
Florence QS4D; Lucien. Prince Of Gamma.
who died at viterbe QS4O: Louis, King of
| Holland, who died at Livorgna QS46; Car
l-oline, wife of Murat. King of Naples. who
| died at Naples Qs39): Jerome. King Of
Westphalia. who died at Villegenio Qs6O).
Louis XVIII was exiled to Gand and re-
turned to France after Waterloo. was re-
established on the throne and died in 1924.
Charles x, brother OF Louis XVI and Louis
XVIII, succeeded. but the revolution of
1890 overthrow the king and provoked the
accession of Louis Philippe. Charles X
fed to England and finally to Goritz, where
he died in 1896. Louis Philippe. in turn,
was forced to abdicate in 1913 in favor of
the republic, fed. and died in Claremont
England, in 1850. Emperor Louis Napoleon
died in exile at Chislehurst In 1873. Dom
Pedro. Emperor of Brazil dethroned
in 1889. died in exile at Paris In
1891; Ismail. khedive of Egypt dethroned
in 1889. died in exile in Constantinople in
1898. Behanzin. King of Dahomey, was
singular and unique, but nevertheless a
king. and. though savage, was very lofty
and proud. Behanzin was exilted to Mar
Unique. but after the eruptions of Mont
Pelee he was transferred to Algeria, where
he recently died Finally Said-AH Ben
Omar, Sultan of the Comoro, who. though
deposed and exiied. has the immense ad-
vantage over all the other exles cited in
the foregoing in that he is still living and
will doubtless be restored to his throne.
The writer may be excused if he mani
tunes Of the exiled Sultan of the Comoro.
The crown Of the Comoro was once laid
at the feet Of the writer, and under such
circumstances that its formal acceptance
fact. The reader will judge.
The writer was colonel in the the regu-
lar army Of Egypt 1s69-1s79). and from
1874 to 1877 was COM
In Gordon's mandant of the mill
Service. tary forces Of the Sou
dan and chief of staff to
Gen. c. G. Gordon, governor general Of
the Egyptian equatorial provinces. In
September. 1875. acting under the direct
orders of Ismail Pacha Khedive (who
had been inspired by Gordon to make the
moye), an expedition 1000 strong left
Suez under the Joint command Of Admiral
McKfllop. commanding the naval, and
NOl. Sudllle-LOnS, the lana FORCES. dOr-
don had suggested Mambasa. but finding
this port impracticable a landing was
effected at Kismayu. The object Of the
expedition, as set forth in Gordons mem
orandum was the seizure and perma-
nent occupation Of port on the Indian
ocean, which would facilitate the expIora
ton and exploitation of the interior
provinces recently annexed to Egypt, but
access to which, by the Nile, was diff
cult and costly.
A month after the occupation the land
forces moved out from Kismayu. and.
taking position on the Tuba, about twelve
miles distant. constructed winter quarters
while awaiting a signal from Gordon to
commence the march into the interior.
So much. in brief. to explain the pres
ence of an Egyptian military expedition
has been charged up to Ismail Khedive
as one of his extravagant, if not political,
crimes, but which. for fact, was solely
and exclusively the inspiration Of Gen.
Gordon. When 1t is understood that Is
mails subsequent dethronement and exile
was largely due to this venture, the in
cident may be considered as worthy Of
mention.
But to return to the sultan of the
Comoro. The writer here may refer to
his memoirs which he Is preparing for
publication: e,--
lone night in December 1 was seated in
the salamlik or reception house. surround
ed, was the daily custom, by the forty
or fifty officers of my command discussing
the events Of the day.. The sentries chal-
lenged, and few moments later the officer
Of the guard reported: "A stranger with a
mounted escort desires to speak with the
commandant.' Itfaddel-let him enter
I replied. Returning the officer ushered in
q young man gorgeously attired. Excel
lency. said the stranger in French. I
am Ali, Prince of Anjouan brother Of the
Sultan of the Comoro Islands. l quarreled
with the grand vizir, and, fearing his pow
err, 1 seized the state treasure and jewels,
and with nartiSanS fed 70 the main
land. At Zanzibar heard of you being in
camp on the Tuba, and have come to seek
your protection. offer you the treasure
and jewels and the crown Of the Comoro.
prince All clapped his hands, whereupon
his attendants appeared bearing case.
which. placed at my feet.
Crown disclosed the treasure of
Jswe,s gold and precious stones!
Shades of Aladdin" I muir
INJURED, can I be dreaming? And Prince
Ali added, when he saw our establishment:
.Excellency, have but one condition; you
will make me your grand vizir!
"Replving. I informed Prince Ali that I
was glad to offer him the hospitality OF
my camp. but that had been charged with
Africa. I would. however, send him to
Cairo In the mail steamer that would be
leaving for suez and would give him let
ter to the Khedive Ismail. to whom ne
could present the treasure. Should the
khedive permit me to accept the prof.
fered crown Of the Comoro Islands ne
could return, and added: Then count
upon me, dear prince; you shall be my
grand yizir It Is understood
'eThe next morning l reviewed my com,
mand of 16OO men of all arms In grand
gala on the plain below our encampment.
All accompanying me. escorted by my COM
pany Of cavalry Of the guard
1.-TWO days later I rode with Prince All
to the port Of Kismayu, where, after pre-
senting him to McKillop. who had assumed
command of the coast, Ali sailed for Suez
with my letter to the khedive. McKillop.
the generous and impulsive Scot. to whom
I explained the object of Ais visit. said.
in his characteristic language: I'm blowed
IL think you are right in throwing away
crown and crown Jewels like that. You
may never see prince or jewels again And
McKillop proved to be a prophet. Ali ar
rived in Cairo but I never more heard of
the Prince Of the Comoro. Whatever Ais
fate consoled myself with my strict COM
pliance with orders from the khedive and
from Gordon, but for this I could have