MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD. AND POHANGINA GAZETTE GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1900. ANOTHER MAHDI.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6712, 2 June 1900, Page 2

MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD. AND POHANGINA GAZETTE GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1900. ANOTHER MAHDI.

The "flash in the pan" revolt recently reported from British North Borneo, must have been a reflex of the little war inspired by a Bornean Iviahdi at the beginning of the present year. We learn that for years past the bete noir of the Government of British North Borneo has been a c?iief named Mahomed Salleh, about 32 years of age. He was first heard of five years ago, and since then he has alwaysbeen a menace to the ruling powers. A descendant of the old sea gypsies who caused so much trouble in the early days of British North Borneo, Mat was fairly quiet until after his marriage with a Princess of Sulu blood. He then became ambitious, and in futherance of his plans collected round him all the discontented Sulus who had formerly been under the rule of his wife's father. On one occasion he had the audacity to present himself at the Company's capital of Sandakav, with three hundred followers all armed to the teeth. Looting led to reprisals on the part of the Government, and a Euro-, pean official was killed. Matters be. came so that a little over two years ago Mr W. Clark Cowie, Managing Director of the Borneo Company) was despatched on a special mission from London to deal with Mat, whom Mr Cowie describes as the Rob Roy of North Borneo. After some weeks of negotiation, a meeting was arranged with the chief and Mr Cowie, who went alone and unarmed to face the greatest rascal in the country. As a result of Mr Cowie's mission, an agreement was concluded with the chief, who agreed to live on terms of amity with the Government and to assist the authorities in maintain

ing order. He also hauled up the company's flag and sent in his sword and a number of rifles. Until last October, Mat Salleh kept more or less to tho letter of his agreement, but soon he attempted a dictatorship, and induced larpe numbers of the sea gypsies, or Bajans, from the coast to join him. The Tambunans objected to this, and asked the Government to establish a station among them. On this being agreed to, Mat Salleh collected the unfriendly Taga people round his banner, and determined to take the country. He sent down to independent territory for gunpowder, and wrote to the Government that if they did not withdraw from Tarnbunan he would take the company's capital of Sandakar and also the Crown colony of Labuan. Even at this juncture every effort was made by the authorities to bring Mat Salleh to his senses without recourse to arms, and it was only when runners with pacific messages from the Governmenc were murdered by a relative of Mat Salleh that the conclusion was reluctantly reached that Mat must be finally dealt with before peace could be established jxi the interior. Accordingly, a strong force of Sikhs and Dyaks, with native allies and carriers, was despatched from the headquarters at Sandakar and elsewhere, and after a week's heavy |narch_J^:ough the jungle, reached the. Vebel stronghpld-' where &^^wss?.,hi-* §|«nched witli^bput j^Op^.y^i^x^i^

upon Sub-Commandant/Dansey, a'young and able officer of the Company's forces who is now fighting in South Africa. On and off fighting continued till the beginning of February. Eventually, one rebel fort after another was occupied, and operations culminated in the death of Mat Salleh. He is admitted by those who knew him to have been an able and brave man. He was a Mahommedan, and the Bajans regarded him with j fanaticism. He claimed to be invulner- : able, and, in fact, set himself up as a sort of Bornean Mahdi.