THE LIFE OF OSMAN DIGMA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3296, 21 April 1885, Page 3

THE LIFE OF OSMAN DIGMA.

BY ONE WHO HAS BEEN HIS PRISON EX,

(Globe.)

It may not be generally known that Oaman Digma is a Frenchman by birth, and was born m the year 1832 m a small hotel m Rouen. His father dying a year or two after, his mother married an Alexandrian merchant m 1837, half French and half Egyptian, of the name of Osman Digma, who, taking a great fancy to' young Osman (at that time named Alphonse Vinet), insistod on having his name changed to his own ; and dying m 1842 left him about 500,000 franca. After tho death of his stepfather he was left to the guardianship of AH Khnna, a kind of half-partner of the elder Osman, a Mussulman, who at the death of Madame Digma m 1842, took young Osman into his house. His religion at that time being very much of the Christian unattached type, was soon converted into Mahommedaniam. AH Khana was a very wealthy man, and lived m great Oriental pomp and splendor. Though intending to be very kind to young Osman, his kindness was of a very Spartan order indeed. He had numerous professors for various branches of learning, and would often be examined by AH himself, who, if he did not consider that he had made progress, would have him severely bastinadoed. At the age of 15 he was sent to Cairo to an ex-French officer to be taught the various methods of European warfare. This officer's name was Captain Meraie, who had been an officer m the French Engineers, but was cashiered, though I have not been able to find out for what reason. This has probably given rise to the story that Osman Digma had been a cashiered • French officer,' which was current m military circles some time ago. Captain Meraie had some 50 boys residing m his house studying war m all its branches, two or three of whom have since become famous, not least among them being Arabi Pasha. The captain's system was. military to the core, severe punishment following the very slightest breach of a regulation, Osman once getting two dozen cuts with a rattan for being one minute late for parade. It is strange, as illustrating the old saying that" "the' boy is father to tlie man," that both Osman and Arabi distinguished themselves as leaders m the mimic battles fought m the .. grounds .of Captain Meraie-'.the former m : a dashing,; swooping kind, of "way,- carrying everything before him, and the latter as a tactician . The consequence was that a'riyalry existed between the two, both having about an equal number of their schoolfellows siding with them. The Captain, though such a strict disciplinarian, was simply worshipped by every boy under, his charge, and seldom failed m turning out brave and plucky soldiers, as not ■ only Arabi and Osman have proved,' butalso some, of Arabia principal officers.

Osman remained here until his 19th year, when he was Bent by his guardian to France on matters relating to Alia business. In. addition to French and Arabic he could speak English, .Spanish, Italian, and Persian fluently. During the two years he remained m France he had an unlimited supply of cash, and got a footing m some of the best circles m Paris, where he was . popularly known . as the "Eastern, Prince," -though among his more intimate friends he was always called Pasha. About this time he obtained a commission', in a cavalry : regiment, and left 1 France m order' to take tip his appointment. .Osman has always obtained the lore and implicit obedience of all who came under him, and appears to have been one of those who seemed born to rnle. He was beloved m his regiment by officers and privates alike. Though from the school he Was brought up m he was naturally a strict disciplinarian, he was never unjust, which is rather a rare ..virtue 'among Egyptian officers, ' '"and was 'consequently appreciated accordingly. In 18GG he obtained the command of his regiment, but shortly afterwards offending the Khedive he had to. leave Egypt, and had his property confiscated. He then went to Sonakim and entered business as a ship chandler and coal agent under an assumed name ; but while on a hunting expedition he was captured by a band of roving Arabs, and was sold as a slave to the man who at present calla himself the " Mahdi." The Mahdi was charmed with his new slave as a man of unbounded learning, and who would be able to train his numerous supporters m the art of war. : He gave Osman his daughter m marriage, and has ever since treated him Jike'a son. Osman often travelled about and tried to sow the seeds of insurrection m the minds of the surrounding tribes, telling them with wild yet peaceful oratory, which, when I heard it for the fipst time— though I did not understand the language — fascinated mo ; while creating a certain kind of awe. From what little I oould understand, he appeared to be letting them know, m addition to the wrongs they were themselves suffering, of his own grievance, and m this he showed consummate tact and wisdom. Knowing that he was beloved by the Arabs, he „ also knew, that a wrong, done to a person ; they loved would* probably have more effeot than a " wrong done to themselves. Perhaps it will hot be out of place here to explain how I became so intimately acquainted with him. In September 1877, 1 was on a shooting expedition iv Abyssinia, and wandered some miles ftway from my party, when I was oaptured by a band of men of whom Osman was the head, and instead of selling me he kept me as. his own slave, though my slavery was" of the lightest description, being principally to teach his son, a pleasant lad of about nine or ten years of age, English. I Boon became intimately acquainted with Qaman, and was often with him iii his expeditions. I seized an opportunity some two years and a half afterwards, and managed to make my escape. I received a letter from him not lon« afterwards (as I had given him my English address soon after ho captured me), and the following were the words: —

" Fallowgalla, Ist April, 1880. 11 My Dear Young Friend,— Though I am aorry to have lost your company, for your own sake I cannot help being glad that you have escaped from my clutches ; but I think you will do me the justico to admit that your life was not very irksome to you while you were with me. Still, i>{

course, you are like most other people, and believe m the words of one of your own poets, ' There is no place like home,' and I cannot say I blame you for taking the first opportunity of escaping. I hope that when you think of me it will only be with feelings of friendship, and that when you look back to the many hours you have spent with me you will remember kindly old Osman Digma, the slavedealer. — Believe me, my dear child, yours affectionately, Osman Digma." From this point the general public knows as much as I do myself, and nearly all the remainder of his life is so much a matter of English history that it is unnecessary for me to enter further into the life of a man who, if it were not that my own country were fighting against him, I should most fervently wish might be successful m his efforts to emancipate his adopted country— a race of brave and intrepid men — from the misrule of men very far their inferiors both m courage and intellect. .