His Principles. 171 Ahmed, the son of a carpenter, and a native of Dongola. He was born about the year 1848, and educated in a village near Khartum, where he studied religion. In 1870 he became a Sheikh, and, after a short stay at Kaka, near Fashoda, he finally took up his residence at the Island of Abba. Here his influence much increased, and he gradually acquired a great reputation for sanctity, and in time assembled a considerable number of dervishes or holy men around him. He augmented his influence by marrying daughters of the leading Sheikhs of the Baggara, and by his power and tact succeeded in merging together the various tribes.

The principles of his teachings were universal equality, universal law and religion, with a community of goods. All who refuse to credit his mission are to be destroyed, whether Christian, Mohammedan, or Pagan. * The causes of the rebellion were ascribed to— 1. The venality of the officials, and the oppressive and unjust manner of collecting the taxes.

2. The suppression of the slave trade. Most of the supporters of the Mahdi, more especially the Baggara tribe, owed all their wealth to the traffic in slaves.

3. The military weakness of Egypt. Colonel Stewart did not consider this as any real cause of the rebellion, as lie believes the troops in the Sudan would have been sufficient, had they been properly handled. 1881. In May, 1881, the Mahdi first advanced his claims to May. being the prophet foretold by Mohammed.

In July, Raouf Pasha, then Governor of the Sudan, had July, his attention drawn to these pretensions. The Mahdi was then living at Marabieh, near the Island of Abba.

In August he publicly proclaimed his mission during August. the Feast of Ramadan, and small parties of troops were sent to dispose of him, but failed to do so. He first showed himself in force in the neighbourhood of Sennar, and then took refuge in the Shilluk country, finally taking up his position at Jebel Gedir, about 150 miles north-west of Kaka on the White Nile.

A force of 350 regulars, under one Rescind Bey, gthDecemattacked the Mahdi, but were defeated with loss. ber -* Keport on the War in the Sudan, by Lieut.-Colonel Stewart, 11th Hussars.