THE STORY" OF AN AFRICAN POTENTATE.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 36, 10 August 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE STORY" OF AN AFRICAN POTENTATE.

• Four of the caravan traders of Tripoli, who have just returned after a prolonged sojourn in the Sultanate of Bornu, the country in the heart of Africa which has of late excited the interest of more than one European nation, and especially of France, have given to Beuter's correspondent some particulars of the state of affairs in that remote region. They have been a full year on their way home, and their trading expedition took them altogether four years. The principal figure in Bornu for a long time has been a notable man named Rabah, formerly a slave, and afterwards the trusted servant and lieutenant of Zobehr Pasha, whose co-operation in the Government of the Soudan was so strongly demanded by General Gordon. Eabah was sent by Zobehr, when the latter was in Darf ur, to collect taxes in the outlying villages, and afterwards, when the Mahdist movement broke the Egyptian power, he fled to Baghirmi with a small but resolute body of adherents, all fighting men, with whose help he subjugated the country. From that time his career has been one of unbroken conquest. With constantly growing forces and a good supply of modern rifles, Rabah advanced against Kuka, the capital of Bornu, of which Ashem was then Sultan. The Tripolitan traders who bring the news were at that time at Kuka. The battle between Rabah's army and the forces of the Sultan took place two days' journey from Kuka, and lasted from three until sunset. It was fought on both sides with desperate valour, and the carnage was fearful. Ashem was defeated, and fled with the whole population from Kuka to ' Zander. Here he was overtaken, and another battle was fought, in which, after three thousand men had fallen, Eabah was again victor. Fifty thousand prisoners were taken by the successful adventurer. Ashem was succeeded in the Sultanate by Kiari, his nephew, who gathered fresh forces and attacked Eabah again and again, but was always repulsed. The traders stayed at Dikwa, Eabah's head- quarters, for four months, and saw him constantly. They describe him as a tall, spare negro, very energetic, and of simple tastes. He ia very rich, having got together vast stores of gold, silver, coral, feathers, and ivory. There are no Europeans with him. Eabah is a perfect free lance, and fights for his own hand and profit. His large army lives on pillage, dividing all loot with its leader, whose power is absolute. "When we left," said the traders, "Eabah was regarded as the sovereign of Bornu, and levied a yearly tax of one Maria Theresa dollar ..on each inhabitant. "Whwnre*rereinWaclai,

on our way homeward, we heard that Kiari had been killed in battle. It is supposed that Rabah is trying i to induce the Sultans of Zinder, i Kano, and Sokoto to enter into an alliance with him."