A BRITISH OFFICER IN THE SOUDAN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 8944, 19 December 1907, Page 6

A BRITISH OFFICER IN THE SOUDAN.

Lord Charles Beresford describes au instance of religious fanaticism which occurred when he was in the Soudan. A great sheikh was captured aud brought before a distinguished general, who said of the Mahdi, "Is this man a man ot God?" "Certainly," said the sheikh. "How do you know?" was asked. "Because ho performs miracles." "Does he?" asked the general. "What miracles has he performed lately?" "Well," replied the sheikh, "he came dowu to Khartoum aud wanted to go ou to Omdurman. He had no boat, but he prayed, aud an alligator came out of the Nile and carried him to Omdurman." The distinguished goneral said, "Did you see it?" "Oh, no," replied the sheikh, but people told me who did see it." The general happened to have a glass eye, and he said to the man, "If I took out one of my eyes, flicked it iv the air, caught it, and put it back again, would you think I ought to be a Mahdi?" "Yes," said the sheikh. The general took out his glass eye. threw it up, aud, catching it as it fell, put it back again. The sheikh fell ou his knees, aud said, "God is great; you must be a Mahdi."