The Warwickshire Herald. — 1885-09-10 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

GREAT MAHOMETAN RISING.  Mr. Lewis, the United States consul at Sierra Leone, has furnished his Government with a leligthy statement of an alleged great Mahometan rising in West Africa, which is to sweep the whole of the West Coast from the Sherbro River to the Niger, aiid rid it of Paganism and the other obstructions to Mahometan power. The leader of this great undertaking is said to be one Samuda, a Mending°. According to Mr. Lewis's statement, Samuda, a man of remarkable intelligence, five years ago conceived tits* idea that be was called by God to rid his country of all hindrances to the religion of Mehemet. Up to the time of Mr. Lewis's writing, the 11th July, Samuda was said to be organising an army of 100,000 men. Wherever he went the Mahonietan youth flock to his banner. The tribe to which Samuda belongs resides in the interior, and one of the objects of his mission is also to clear the way to the coast of all the intermediate tribes, who he believes are the great barriers to the development of the interior country. Samuda's vast army is now divided into three corps—one to operate in the district of the Upper Niger, the second in the interior of Liberia, and the third in the region of the Sherbro River. The corps which is operating in the district of the Niger is said to have recently driven the French troops from the region of flours. They were, at latest acceunta, proceeding to Pammaka, a large town on the Niger, occepied by the French about three years ago and fortified by them. No particulars seem to have been received of the progress of the corps inland of Liberia, but as regards the Sherbro army, it was said this was but a few miles to the north-west of Sierra Leone. This army bad secured, either by conquest or voluntary act, the submission of all the tribes and countries in its march of about 500 miles. The largest and most important Pagan kingdom on this side of the Niger was said by Mr. Lewis to be Soolima, of which Wales, a large commercial city, was the capital. For the last GO years the Fula]] Mahi metans bad been trying by diplomacy to subdue the place, but without effect. Last year Samuda's army, in overwhelming numbers, surrounded the place, and called upon the inhabitants to surrender to Islam. This the King and people refused to do. The King collected his family together, and held a consultation with his ;rest chiefs. He said he would die rather than emorece Mahometanism, hut left it to the option of his chiefs to take any course they liked. They, however, all preferred to share the fate of the monarch. After a terrible siege of five monthe' duration the King, all the Royal Family, and the chiefs entered the powder store, which they blew up, all inside being killed. The city then was reduced by flames. The Hoehn° country, which had been a source of much terror to all peaceful traders for the last 30 yi are, was also conquered by Sainuda's ariny. The predatory king of Hooboo, Abal, was taken prisoner. His arms, legs, and head were Revered from his bedy. and sent to the various countries which had suffered from the murderous and pi, datory acts of Ali l's followers. Sammie, it was said, was confining his attention to the Tiinuch and Sherbro districts, which countries had been in constant ferment through the incessant tribal wars.