WHO IS THE MAHDI?

Kumara Times, Issue 2662, 19 March 1885, Page 2

WHO IS THE MAHDI?

His name is Mahomet Achmet. He is a native of the Province of Dongola. His father was a carpenter. As a boy the Mahdi was apprenticed to a boathuilder near Shendy. This man was his uncle. Having been beaten by him he ran away to Khartonrn. Here he received a general education at a free school, and especially studied religious teachings. He was more proficient in these than in the mere commonplace requirements of reading and writing and figuring. By-and-by he went to Berber, and joined another free school there, thus completing his religious education. Retiring to the island of Abba, near Kaua on the White Nile, he lived the life of a religious recluse, gradually attracted a great many followers, became very wealthy, married several wives, and grew famous. He was ingenious in his marriage matters. The Koran allowed him only four wives at a time. He was a devout man, and hence must keep within the legalised number; so when he grew tired of one wife, and was attracted by the charms of some unmarried lady, he divorced the former and made up the quartette by marrying the latter. As to his personal appearance, he is tall and slim, with n black beard and a light brown, complexion. He is said to have great natural ability. He is about fort3 r years old. One reason besides his successes why he has been so enthusiastically received by the Mohammedans is that they have been for some years looking foi ward to the coming of a new Prophet, whose advent was foretold by Mohammed. The Mahdi gave himself out as that true Prophet, charged with the mission of working numerous reforms.—Adelaide Observer. The Mahdi is a radical teetotaler, and will not even allow tea or coffee in his camp. In fact he recently gave a refugee a sociable thrashing of three hundred lashes for merely smoking a cigaretie.