THE MAHDI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1166, 29 July 1885, Page 4

THE MAHDI.

Tho following sketch from the Molbourno "Age" gives an outlino of the career of tha Mahdi, who is reported to havo died of smallpox on tho 29th ult : — Tho Mahdi, Mohamod Achmet, was a native of the province of Dongola, and was the son of a carpenter. When a boy Mahomed Achmet was apprenticed to his uncle, who was a boatman, residing at the Island Shakabeh, and on being chastised by his uncle and master, he ran away to Khartoum, where ho joined the free school of the Medressu, a sect of dervishes. This establishment was at a village near Khartoum, and was attached to the tomb of Sheik Hoghali, who is tho patron saint of the city. Here the future Mahdi remained for some time studying religion I chiefly. He afterwards completed his religious education at a school noar Berber, this school being also attached to a ahrine highly venerated by the natives. After leaving this place Mohamed Achmet became the disciple of a faki (a learned religious man), and having graduated in this way he became a fakl himself, being ordained to this rank about 1873. He then took up his residence in a retreat in the island of Abba, on the White Nile, where he practised the strictest rituals of hia religion. By degrees tho knowledge of hia life, devoted to sanctity, his fastings, prayers, invocations, and incense burning caused hia fame to spruad, and he collected disciples, became rich in this world's goods, and married wives, all of whom were stated to bo daughters of men of prominence, wealth, and influence. His own power and influence increased, and in the year 1881 it began to be noised abroad thai he was the Mahdi foretold by Mahomet, who was to be the divinelychosen agent to bring about a great reformation and emancipation. The announcement as to his divine mission were first made by Mohamod Achmet himself to other fakis, whom he informed that he wa3 to bring back universal religion, equality and law, and community of goods and that all those who should endeavor to frustrate him in his divinelyordained mission would suffer death, no matter who they were. About the middle of the year 1881 the Egyptian Governor in the Soudan began to feel alarmed at the evidently growiug power of the new Mahdi, and by the way in which Mohamed Achmet was recognised as the Mahdi by the native people he soon became in a position to assume an aggressive attitude, and thus began the struggle which has developed into ono of the most complicated and vexatious difficulties of the day. The Mahdi's forces were largely recruited through the corrupt and tyrannical Government which prevailed in the Soudan, and he led the Natives to believe that he would free them from the villainous oppression of tax-gathering officials. Thus thousands joined his standard and ho speedily found himsolf at the head of a fanatical force, whose doings have troubled soldiers and statesmen in England, and even in Australia. In person the Mahdi was described as being tall and slim, with a rather light brown complexion and a ! black beard. From the success which has j generally followed on moat of his underi takings, ho was a man of uncommon natural ability, though unscrupulous at all times, and tyrannical whenever he had the opportunity. Ey his death tho greatest obstacle of the final settlement of the Soudan question has been removed.