AN INTERVIEW WITH CETYWAYO.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3675, 25 April 1883, Page 4

AN INTERVIEW WITH CETYWAYO.

A cm-respondent of the Cape limes give. l : an account in that journal of an intcrvicAV he bad Avilb Cetywayo mi tho morning lie 1,-ft Oudc Molcn for /ululand. Tbe writer says :—•' In accorelancc Avitlt a promise which I bail on a former occasion made the King, that I would Avish him 'good-bye' on the day of his ihvparture. I drove across early yesterday morning- to tliu prison farm In front of the house stood the carriage in Avhie-h the King avus to proceeil to Simon's ToAvn, anel the carts in Avhieh his folloAvers anel his personal luggage Avere to be conveyeel. The morning Avas, for the scasoi of tho year. Avonderfully clear, with brighi sunshine, and a keen, fresh Avesteiiy avuul The last morning at Ouele Molelcn a\ as uniloubtcdly to Cetywayo one of tho brightest lie hael ever knoAvn there. When lie returned from England, it seemed to me that he had lost someAvhat of his old vigour, and in subsequent interviews 1. thought that his captivity had impaired the intellect Avhicli Avas so subtle anil so vigorous Avhen L had, mi former occasions, controversions Avithhini regarding the Zulu Avar. But yesterday morning's interview convinced me that any conception I hael previously entertained e>f any falling off in the King's mental powers Avas entirely erroneous, and it Avas evident that the symptoms of lassitude anel depression previously noticed hael been caused by anxiety as to the arrangements Avhieh Avere being made for the return to Zululand. or doubt as to Avbether the return weulel evei be made. Such is the impression which Dowuing-<trect maks on the native mind. 1 feel certain it avus only yestevday the King felt sure that lie vyas to return to Zululand. and with that cert.'uuty before him he was in a condition of mental vigour such u< when I met him first. These trifling instances ;_•<.• AVorth noting after what has been written Avitli regard to the Kjng and as to the future of Zululand. The three years' absence from Zulnlaiid has not Aveakened the King's mental powers, and it has been hoped that iv the interests of all South Africa his professions regarding the future government of what is lift to him of all his kingdom Avill be realised. The King received me iv front of the house and, after a few Avorels, entered it. The reason of Ids retiring Avas soon made known to me, for his natiA-e interpreter brought me Avord the King Avished to speak A\ith me. Iv the reception hall, which has iioav been so often described by so many Avriters, the King held his last reception. He Avas dressed with au CA'ident desire to make a good impression Avhen he was received on board of tbe English Avar-ship, and a tight fitting frock coat and heavily gold-braidcel cap showed how his Avaretrobe had been improved. The object of the interview avus soon divulged, and proved how Avonderfully retentive Cetywayo"s memory is, and hoAV anxious lie jilso is to show a ]>_iper I'lppreriallVili Ot'tbillS'S, . . . Aflel'.^liic talk the visit came to a '-I'luiusion, and 1 -ri-id:— '1 hope, Cetywayo, tlmt you avUI

have a long and peaceful reign in Zululand.' He replied, ' I hope it rvill be peaceful, but until I bar-o seen Shepstone, and he has explained OA;erything to me, I cannot tell Avhat will be. : To this I rejoined 'AVhen you return to Zululand be sure that you respect whatever is told you on behalf of the British Government, and on no condition let any one tempt you to take up a position of hostility to England. That is the most friendly advice I can give you on this the eve of your departure for your oavu country.' The King for a fcrv moments, and then he said, looking at me fully in the face as if he Avas trying to enforce Avith his eyes the truth of Avha't ho Avas saying : ' I have given my heart to the English. I promise that I rvill never forget that the English are my best friends, and I shall listen to the AA-ordsof the Resident.' The words were, I belier'e, not lightly spoken, but Cetywayo has not yet realised the conditions under Avhieh he returns. He believes himself to be under the protection of the English Government. In dcrcribing his future position, he said he was to be an English Governor ; but that is just Avhat he is not going to be. He goes back a King to a portion of tho land Avhieh he once ruled, and shorn of all the Avcalth lie once possessed in cattle. It is said that his friends Avill soon make up to him that Avealth. That -will be the crucial test of his popularity Avith his people, and the wisdom ot his restoration. Cetywayo does not entertain the same belief of tho pouring in of rvealth by his friends as the British Government does -or does not. The rvay in Avhieh the restoration has been made bides the intention of the British Government most completely Cetyrvayo does not conceal his disapprobation of the conditions on which he goes back to Zululand. Anything Avhieh he could say norv respectiug John Dunn would not obliterate tho memory of what he said about him 'months and months ago rvith stubborn and positive reiterations. Under the settlement John Dunn is to have Imperial protection as Avell as he ; and Usibebu Avill be nearly as powerful as the restored King. The restoration is an experiment; it contains many elements of danger, but none of them Avill be reduced by discussion at this stage, for Cetywayo is on board an English man-of-war on"his Avay back to his native land, of Avhieh he has said, ' I Avould rather see once more and die than live in exile.'"'