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living and all the delights of the flesh。 He fell into trances；
he saw visions； he saw the prophet and Jesus； and the Angel
Izrail accompanying him and watching over him forever。 He
prophesied and performed miracles； and his fame spread through
the land。
There is an ancient tradition in the Mohammedan world； telling of
a mysterious being； the last in succession of the twelve holy
Imams； who； untouched by death and withdrawn into the recesses of
a mountain； was destined； at the appointted hour； to come forth
again among men。 His title was the Mahdi； the guide； some
believed that he would be the forerunner of the Messiah； others
believed that he would be Christ himself。 Already various Mahdis
had made their appearance； several had been highly successful；
and
two； in medieval times； had founded dynasties in Egypt。 But who
could
tell whether ail these were not impostors？ Might not the twelfth
Imam be still waiting； in mystical concealment； ready to emerge；
at any moment； at the bidding of God？ There were signs by which
the true Mahdi might be recognised unmistakable signs； if one
could but read them aright。 He must be of the family of the
prophet； he must possess miraculous powers of no common kind； and
his person must be overflowing with a peculiar sanctity。 The
pious dwellers beside those distant waters； where holy men by
dint of a constant repetition of one of the ninety…nine names of
God； secured the protection of guardian angels； and where groups
of devotees； shaking their heads with a violence which would
unseat the reason of less athletic worshippers； attained to an
extraordinary beatitude； heard with awe of the young preacher
whose saintliness was almost more than mortal and whose miracles
brought amazement to the mind。 Was he not also of the family of
the prophet？ He himself had said so； and who would disbelieve the
holy man？ When he appeared in person； every doubt was swept away。
There was a strange splendour in his presence； an overpowering
passion in the torrent of his speech。 Great was the wickedness of
the people； and great was their punishment！ Surely their miseries
were a visible sign of the wrath of the Lord。 They had sinned；
and the cruel tax gatherers had come among them； and the corrupt
governors； and all the oppressions of the Egyptians。 Yet these
things； 'Too； should have an end。 The Lord would raise up his
chosen deliverer； the hearts of the people would be purified； and
their enemies would be laid low。 The accursed Egyptian would be
driven from the land。 Let the faithful take heart and make ready。
How soon might not the long…predestined hour strike； when the
twelfth Imam； the guide； the Mahdi； would reveal himself to the
world？' In that hour； the righteous 'Would triumph and the guilty
be laid low forever。' Such was the teaching of Mohammed Ahmed。 A
band of enthusiastic disciples gathered round him； eagerly
waiting for the revelation which would crown their hopes。 At
last； the moment came。 One evening； at Abba Island； taking aside
the foremost of his followers； the Master whispered the
portentous news。 He was the Mahdi。
The Egyptian Governor…General at Khartoum； hearing that a
religious movement was afoot； grew disquieted； and dispatched
an emissary to Abba Island to summon the impostor to his
presence。 The emissary was courteously received。 Mohammed Ahmed；
he said； must come at once to Khartoum。 'Must！' exclaimed the
Mahdi； starting to his feet； with a strange look in his eyes。 The
look was so strange that the emissary thought it advisable to cut
short the interview and to return to Khartoum empty…handed。
Thereupon； the Governor…General sent 200 soldiers to seize the
audacious rebel by force。 With his handful of friends； the Mahdi
fell upon the soldiers and cut them to pieces。 The news spread
like wild…fire through the country： the Mahdi had arisen； the
Egyptians were destroyed。 But it was clear to the little band of
enthusiasts at Abba Island that their position on the river was
no longer tenable。 The Mahdi； deciding upon a second Hegira；
retreated south…westward； into the depths of Kordofan。
The retreat was a triumphal progress。 The country； groaning under
alien misgovernment and vibrating with religious excitement；
suddenly found in this rebellious prophet a rallying…point； a
hero； a deliverer。 And now another element was added to the
forces of insurrection。 The Baggara tribes of Kordofan； cattle…
owners and slave…traders； the most warlike and vigorous of the
inhabitants of the Sudan； threw in their lot with the Mahdi。
Their powerful Emirs； still smarting from the blows of Gordon；
saw that the opportunity for revenge had come。 A holy war was
proclaimed against the Egyptian misbelievers。 The followers of
the Mahdi； dressed； in token of a new austerity of living； in the
'jibbeh'； or white smock of coarse cloth； patched with variously
shaped and coloured patches； were rapidly organised into a
formidable army。 Several attacks from Khartoum were repulsed； and
at last； the Mahdi felt strong enough to advance against the
enemy。 While his lieutenants led detachments into the vast
provinces lying to the west and the southDarfur and Bahr…el…
Ghazalhe himself marched upon El Obeid； the capital of
Kordofan。 It was in vain that reinforcements were hurried from
Khartoum to the assistance of the garrison： there was some severe
fighting； the town was completely cut off； and； after a six
months' siege； it surrendered。 A great quantity of guns and
ammunition and ￡100；000 in spices fell into the hands of the
Mahdi。 He was master of Kordofan： he was at the head of a great
army； he was rich； he was worshipped。 A dazzling future opened
before him。 No possibility seemed too remote； no fortune too
magnificent。 A vision of universal empire hovered before his
eyes。 Allah； whose servant he was； who had led him thus far；
would lead him onward still； to the glorious end。
For some months he remained at El Obeid； consolidating his
dominion。 In a series of circular letters； he described his
colloquies with the Almighty and laid down the rule of living
which his followers were to pursue。 The faithful； under pain of
severe punishment； were to return to the ascetic simplicity of
ancient times。 A criminal code was drawn up； meting out
executions； mutilations； and floggings with a barbaric zeal。 The
blasphemer was to be instantly hanged； the adulterer was to be
scourged with whips of rhinoceros hide； the thief was to have his
right hand and his left foot hacked off in the marketplace。
No more were marriages to be celebrated with pomp and feasting；
no
more was the youthful warrior to swagger with flowing hair；
henceforth； the believer must banquet on dates and milk； and his
head must be kept shaved。 Minor transgressions were punished by
confiscation of property or by imprisonment and chains。 But the
rhinoceros whip was the favourite instrument of chastisement。 Men
were flogged for drinking a glass of wine； they were flogged for
smoking； if they swore； they received eighty lashes for every
expletive； and after eighty lashes it was a common thing to die。
Before long； flogging grew to be so everyday an incident that the
young men made a game of it； as a test of their endurance of
pain。
With this Spartan ferocity there was mingled the glamour
and the mystery of the East。 The Mahdi himself； his four
Khalifas； and the principal Emirs； masters of sudden riches；
surrounded themselves with slaves and women； with trains of
horses and asses； with body guards and glittering arms。 There
were rumours of debaucheries in high places of the Mahdi；
forgetful of his own ordinances； revelling in the recesses of his
harem； and quaffing date syrup mixed with ginger out of the
silver cups looted from the church of the Christians。 But that
imposing figure had only to show itself for the tongue of scandal
to be stilled。 The tall； broad…shouldered； majestic man； with the
dark face and black beard and great eyeswho could doubt that he
was the embodiment of a superhuman power？ Fascination dwelt in
every movement； every glance。 The eyes； painted with antimony；
flashed extraordinary fires； the exquisite smile revealed；
beneath the vigorous lips； white upper teeth with a V…shaped
space between them the certain sign of fortune。 His turban was
folded with faultless art； his jibbeh； speckless； was perfumed
with sandal…wood； musk； and attar of roses。 He was at once all
courtesy and all command。 Thousands followed him； thousands
prostrated themselves before him； thousands； when he lifted up
his voice in solemn worship； knew that the heavens were opened
and that they had come near to God。 Then all at once the onbeia
the e