THE MURDERED BRITISH ENVOY.

Kumara Times, Issue 991, 3 December 1879, Page 2

THE MURDERED BRITISH ENVOY.

Sir Louis Cavagnari was one of those Few men created hy nature to make tboir mark in the world’s history. Utterly un-English in Ids aspect, Ids manner, his style of thought and his character of action, he recalled the continental diplomatists of the moyon age. It has been generally assumed at Peshawar for years back that it was only a question of time when Oavagnari should bo assassinated, as had Mackeson, Macdonald, and so others who had been Ids predecessors in the perilous fascinating career of frontier management. A slight man, of lather feeble physique, but with an eye bkc a two-edged sword, he never carried arms, differing in this from John Nicolson, who always had a pistol on his writing table ; and when, at an interview, a hilltuau or an African

waxed truculent, took care to secure the first trick in the game. Cavagnari \ (writes a correspondent), although he ■ never loses his temper, can on occasions hit wonderfully straight from the shoulder. I remember once riding with him to an appointment lie had with some Afridis to settle some vexed land question, I remained on the road while he, alone, in the centre of about a dozen stiilwart ruffians armed to the eyebrows, walked round the field. Presently the loud angry accents of a dispute reached my cars. The Afridis were surrounding Cavagnari, gesticulating with passionate vehemence, some with hands on thendaggers. Cavagnari stood quiet, perfectly fearless, utterly impassive. Suddenly I saw the biggest of tbe Afridis go down like a bullock and Cavagnari, with unruffled composure, returning his hand into his pocket. He had knocked the ruffian down, and the swift thoroughness of the act cowed the fierce hill men. About half-way on the return journey Cavagnari remarked, apologetically; “It was absolutely necessary. Please don’t think I lost my {temper; I was perfectly cool; but I was forced to maintain my ascendancy ;” and then lie added, meditatively, ‘‘ and I wanted also to save my life,”— London Wm-ld.