THE MAHDI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7008, 3 May 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE MAHDI.

Mahomed Achhet, the Mahdi, is «< of the province oE Dongola, and his father was by trade a carpenter. As a boy "he was apprenticed to his uncle, a boatbailder, but having received a beating ran away to Khartoum, juid joined the free school attached to the tomb of Sheikh Hoghali, tha patron saint of Khartoum. Here Mahomed Achmet remained for some time 'stadying religion, without making any mark amoogst the other pnpils. Afterwards he went to Berker, to join another free school, likewise attached to a shrine greatly venerated by the natives. Here he remained six months completing his religious education, and in 1870 became a disciple of another faki (learned man), who subsequently ordained him a sheikh and teacher of religion. Ultimately the Mahdi took up his home in the island of Abba, near Kana, on the White Kile. He, began by making a subterranean retreat, into which he retired for prayers, accompanied by fasting and incense-bnrning. His fame and sanctify by degrees spread far and- wide, and Mahomed Achmet became wealthy, collected disciples, and married several wives, all of whom he took care to select from among the daughters of the most influential sheikhs and other notables. To keep within the number (four) legalised by the Kor»n, he was in the habit of divorcing the surplus and taking them on again according to his fancy. About the end of May, 14S1, he began to write to his brother fakis thac he was the Mahdi foretold by Mahomet the Propbet, and that he had a divine mission to reform Islam, to establish universal equality, a universal law, and a community of goods; also that all who did nobbelieve in him should be destroyed,, be they Christians, Mabommedans, or Pagans. Among others, he wrote to Mahomet Saleb," a very JearnedUnd influential faki of Dongola, directing him to collect his dervishes and friends and to join him at Abba. This eheikk, instead of complying with his request, informed the Government, declaring the man must be mad. Iα July, ISSI, the Mahdi proclaimed open rebellion and commenced operations, but was defeated in the south of Senaar in the winter of ISSI-S2. Since then the False Prophet has kept the Soudan in a constant ferment, alternately defeating the Egyptian troops under AbdelKaderand being defeated by them, until the crushing disaster of Hicks Pasha near Obeid in Kordofan in tho battle of Kasghil, on November 5, ISS3, awoke the world to the serious dangers ariaing from the strife in the Soudan to Egypt' proper. In person the Mahdi is tall and slim, with a black beard and light brown complexion. He evidently possesses considerable natural ability ana tact, or he would noS have been able to unite the usually discordant Soudanese tribes to a common purpose. The biographical facts about the Mahdi are taken from an account drawn up by Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, who isno<v on his way to Khartoum with General Gordon.—Queen. '