MAHOMEDAN GOVERNMENT OF TA-LY

(The Lord has said : He it is who has sent his Prophet with guidance and the true Faith to make that Faith known, whole and entire even though the Idolaters be opposed hereto, And in the Psalms we have seen written : Verily my Servants the Righteous shall inherit the earth.

“God be praised, the whole Universe is in the hands of the Almighty, and He is all-powerful. God’s mercy be upon the Prophet, whom he sent for the redemption of man, as well as upon the descendants and companions of the Prophet, who devoted to God their lives and worldly goods.

© O Followers of Mahomed ! in telling you how it fared with us, we offer grateful thanks to the Almighty. It behaves you to rejoice in the grace which God had shown to us, for God has said that all followers of the Prophet are brethren, and hence the grace shown to us by God has been shown to you all.

“ Know then that God has granted us the, country of China, and has appointed us to rule in China. Formerly we were under the yoke of the Chinese, but now they are subject to us, and have no power to oppose us.

{The cause of the dispute was that the Idolaters and their chiefs assembled together to kill the Mahomedans, and began to insult their religion. The Idolaters desiredto extinguish God’s light, but God determined to preserve it in spite of the Idolaters. The Mahomedans then entirely resigned themselves to God. Having abandoned every hope of life,we fought with the Idolaters, and God gave us the Victory. God gave us courage, and created fear in the hearts of the Idolaters, so we by the decree of God did defeat them. We slew a great number of the Idolaters, and many of their chiefs

!Je dois au bienveillant intermédiaire de M. le colonel Yule, cet extrait d'une proclamation adressée par le sultan

de Ta-ly aux populations mahométanes des pays frontières.

cus. Nous en avons mis à mort un grand nombre et une foule de leurs chefs, grands et petits, toujours conformément à la parole de Dieu qui a dit : Un petit nombre d'hommes vainquit une armée !

«Nous étions tenus par le plus strict des devoirs de venir en aide aux Mahométans et d'établir un Sultan et Iman mahométan qui püt faire les préparatifs qu'exigeait la guerre à soutenir. Nous avons donc établi un sultan mahométan qui est prudent, juste et généreux. Peu lui ressemblent. Il est brave et aguerri, et n’a pas d’égal dans la bataille. Nous lui avons donné le pouvoir de nous gouverner. Il est sage et prompt à protéger son peuple. Nous lui avons confié l'administration de toutes nos affaires. Nous serons ses sujets fidèles et obéissants. Nous ne désobéirons jamais à ses ordres. Son nom est Sanik, il est autrementappelé SULEIMAN. Il a maintehant établi la loi mahométane. Il administre la justice conformément aux préceptes du Coran et aux /raditions. Depuis que nous l'avons choisi pour notre Iman, nous avons été, par la volonté du ciel, toujours victorieux. Nous avons conquis un territoire qui s'étend jusqu'à soixante journées de marche. Un grand nombre de rois ont fait leur soumission à notre Iman, et lui ont offert des joyaux précieux et des tributs.

« O Mahometans ! Sachez done que cet Iman est maintenant avec nous. Il a envoyé des ministres par tout le pays et a désigné dans chaque ville des officiers qu'il a chargés du gouvernement des Infideles.

« Toutes les fois que les feux de la guerre se sont allumés, Dieu les a immédiatement éteints ; car il est écrit que le Tout-Puissant ne donnera jamais aux Infidèles la souveraineté sur les Mahométans. Les ministres et les chefs qui commandent sous notre Iman sont aussi simples de cœur qu'Abou-Bekr, aussi braves qu'Ali. Nul ne peut leur tenir tête dans la bataille. [ls sont impérieux envers l'Infidèle, mais doux envers le Mahomeétan. La métropole de l’infidélité est devenue une cité de l'Islam.

«O Mahométans! Offrez vos prières au Tout- Puissant, et remerciez-le de notre victoire et de la domination bienfaisante de notre Iman. De notre côté nous adressons nos prières au ciel, pour que, par la grâce de Dieu, vous puissiez jouir de la paix, de la santé et du bonheur, et que Dieu vous soit en aide !

« À tous les savants docteurs mahométans, salutations du Sultan. »

both of high and low rank : ever according to the word of God which says : A small number of men

overcame a host !

. Uwas our bounden duty to help the Mahomedans and to set up a Mahomedan Sultan and Imam, who might make fitting provision for war. Therefore we have set up à Mahomedan Sultan, he is prudent, just and generous. Few are like him! He is brave and warlike, and has no equa lin battle. We have made him our ruler. He is wise and prompt to protect his people. We have entrusted to him our affairs of every description. We shall be obedient and submissive to him. We shall never disobey his commands. His name is Sanik, otherwise called Suzeman. He has now established Mahomedan Law. He administers justice according to the dictates of the Koran and the Traditions. Since we have made him have been by the decree of God, very victorious. We have conquered territory to the distance of 2 months journey. Many kings

our Imam we

have tendered their submission to our Imam, and have offered him precious gems and tribute.

© O Mahomedans ! Know ye that the same Imam is now with us. He has sent ministers throughout the country, and has appointed officers to every town for the government of the Infidels.

© Whenever the flame of war blazed out, God did immediately quench it; for it is said that the Almighty, will never give the Infidels dominion over the Mahomedans. The Ministers and chiefs under our Imam are as single-hearted as Abu- Bekr, as bold as Ali. No one can face them in battle. They are imperious to the Infidel but meek to the Moslem. The metropolis of [nfidelity has became a city of Islam!

CO Mahomedans! offer your prayers to the Almighty for our victory and for the rule of our Imam. For our own part we pray that, by the grace of God, you may enjoy peace, health, and bappiness, and that God may be your helper!

( The salutation of the Sultan to all learned Mahomedan doctors. »