30 THE WAK IN THE SOUDAN.

In 1870 he became the disciple of Sheikh Nur-el-Dami, a name which means “ continuous light,” and he ordained him a faki or sheikh. After this he went to live in the island of Abba, on the White Nile, where he dug a

cave for himself, which he called a retreat, and into which he went constantly to worship. He began to be known as a very pious man, greatly given to fasting and incense-burning, and prayers. After a time he was joined by

followers, who gave him presents, so that he became very wealthy. He married as many wives as he was allowed to have, and always took them from wealthy families, by which means, of course, his own wealth and influence were increased. In May, 1881, he began to write letters declaring himself the Madhi whom Mahomet had foretold. He said that he had been sent to

reform Islam, that he would bring a new state of things into the Mahom- rnedan world, that he would establish the equality of man, and make the rich share with the poor. A great many people at once believed in him and followed him. Then he went further, and said that those who did not receive him should be destroyed, whoever and whatever they were.

The world had been so occupied with Arabi Pasha in Egypt, that very little notice was taken of the Mahdi for some time ; but on the 19th December,

1881, news came that there were troubles in the Soudan. The False Prophet, at the head of one thousand five hundred men, totally annihilated an Egyptian force of three hundred and fifty men, who were led against him by the Gover¬ nor of Fashada. The Governor himself was among the killed. The Governor- General of the Soudan at once sent for reinforcements, and the Black Regiment, under the command of Abdallah Bey, was ordered to advance. But the Egyptian forces were very half-hearted in the matter, and were beaten again and again.

In July, 1882, the Mahdi brought his followers and made them surround the Egyptian soldiers under Yusef Pasha. The Egyptians were without food, and were easily overcome, the entire army being massacred by the Mahdi.

On the 8th of September, he attacked Obeid and was repulsed. He made

a second and a third attack with the same result ; and on the last occasion 10,000 of his men were slain.

On the 8th of December, a man arrived on the scene who was likely to

make things better if it were possible, and that was Colonel Stuart ; but in the beginning of January, 1883, both Bara and Obeid surrendered to the Mahdi, who at once entered the latter town and took up his residence there.

The Daily News published a very curious letter from an Effendi, which had been forwarded by its special correspondent, Mr. O’Donovan, and which

shows how some of the Mahdi’s followers regard him:—“The Mahdi seeks nothing but God. He is kind and speaks civilly to all. He abhors falsehoods, and his pride is to spread the glory of our religion. He fights in the path of