A FRENCHMAN'S INTERVIEW WITH THE MAHDI.

Kumara Times, Issue 2633, 13 February 1885, Page 3

A FRENCHMAN'S INTERVIEW WITH THE MAHDI.

The Cairo Bosphore Egyplien publishes a letter, dated October 27th> from M. Olivier Pain, describing an interview he has had with the Mahdi. It states that after a weary march of thirty days with two Bedouins an escort, he arrived a short distance from Obeid. He was surrounded by Soudanese horsemeu, who took him to Melbeiss. There M. Pain presented his letters of introduction. The chief locked him up in a hut for two days, and then . returned with many other chiefs to conduct him to the Mahdi. On his arrival the M.ihdi smiled pleasantly, and offered his hand. M. Pain remarked that the grasp given was other than is usual among the Moslems, and said "I am not a Christian. I was formerly called Olliver Pain. To-day my name is , having become a Moslem." The Mahdi said, " Perhaps you have become a Moslem only to come safe to me. If so retake your own religion. I will make no Moslem by force." M. Pain replied—"l am a good Moslem, and pray thrice each day." Upon being asked whether he was a Frenchman or an Englishman, M. Pain replied " a Frenchman." Asked why he came, he replied—"l came because in Europe some say you defend the liberty of the people, and fight for the independence of country and the religion of the Prophet. Others, principally Englishmen, assert that you are a savage barbarian, a man of blood, who kill all who refuse to serve you, whether believers or heretics. My brethren in France sent me to learn and write the truth." The Mahdi replied : " Good. Remain with me. Yon shall see with your own eyes." He then asked : " Since your French brothers are fighting for liberty, why did the French fight against Arabi ?" M. Pain replied: " The French were at first friendly to Arabi, but became enemies when they found he was a man to be bought for money, and who threatened French lives in Egypt, and they gave him up." The Mahdi asked, " Why did the French ships come to Alexandria then and leave without fighting ?" M. Pain explained that if Arabi had not gained over the Egyptian people the French would have fought him, but they refused to kill the Egyptians, and only stayed to see what happeued. The Mahdi was much pleased, and again shook hands, He gave M. Pain a small house next his own.