THE MURDERED BRITISH ENVOY.

Kumara Times, Issue 995, 8 December 1879, Page 4

THE MURDERED BRITISH ENVOY.

[world.] Sir Louis Oavagnari was one of those few men created by nature to make their mark in the world’s history, Utterly unEnglish Jin his aspect, his manner, his style of thought and his character of action, he recalled the continental diplomatists of the moyen age. It has been generally assumed at Peshawur for years back that it was only a question of time when Cavagnari should be assassinated, as had been Mackeson, Macdonald, and so many others who had been his predecessors in the perilous fascinating career of frontier management. A slight man, of rather feeble physique, but with an eye like 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 hillman 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 he had with some Afridis to settle some vexed land question. I remainded on the road while he alone, in the centre of about a dozen stalwart ruffians armed to the eyebrows, walked round the field. Presently the loud angry accents of a dispute reached my ears. The Afridis were surrounding Cavagnari gesticulating with passionate vehemence, some with hands on their daggers. Cavagnari stood quite perfectly fearless, utterly impassive. Suddenly I saw the biggest of the Afridis go down like a bullock and Cavagnari, with unruffled composure, returning his hand to his pocket. He had knocked the ruffian down, and the swift thoroughness of the act cowed the fierce hillmen. About halfway on the return, journey Cavagnari remarked apologetically. “It was absolutely neccessary. Please don’t think I lost my temper ; I was perfectly cool ; but I was forced to maintain my ascendancy; and theft he added, meditatively, “ and I wanted also to save my life.’,