SIR PETER LUMSDEN.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume V, Issue 230, 11 July 1885, Page 4

SIR PETER LUMSDEN.

From his youth Sir Peter Lumsdenhas! lbeen a mail of war. He distinguished himself as a youngster in the- terrible Indian Mutiny of 1857. He learned the 1 Hindustani dialects years ago. When Sir Frederick Roberts was oil his way to; Candahar it was of the utmost consequencej that he should have some accurate knowledge of the route and forces likely to oppose him in the mountain passes. This information Sir Peter Lumsden volunteered to obtain. Three days elapsed I and he had not returned. General' lioberts was sitting m has tent when a' .Fakir, or holy man, suddenly appeared, ! Tiding down the mountain side. He wasi ■an extraordinary looking creature, his i only garment being a dirty pair of! trousers made of goatskin. His hair nearly reached to his waist, and his lean, lirawny arms were covered with paste! made of sandal wood ashes mixed with! 'castor oil a decoration of: peculiar! •sanctity and powerful smell. The General <eaii>e out -and asked his visitor what he wanted. The reply in a barbarian jargon! was a request lor a private interview. j AVhen they were alone the Fakir said :! —'" Don't you know me ?" It was Lumsden, whose disguise—dirt, wig, and all— 1 X;ad been so complete as to b» unsuspected by a man whose intimate iriend Ire had ■been lor ten years. Knowing how superstitious the Afghans are, Lumsden Viad selected a disguise they would not Teadily question. lie knew the dialect ot the class he represented perfectly, and whenever ho iipproaehed an Afghan en'Campinent he dashed fearlessly up yelling: u Lah Allah Malnnoud resoul Allah,, ' the mystic words <c,f the faithful. His identity was never suspected. The -information he obtained enabled the i'mglisn to capture Candahar., and rendered *he campaign the most successful one •ever made amongst those bloak mountains. bor this service General Lunjisdcn was in J ul.>, lisSl, cu • 1.11 li issi ci i lei I a ALijor<jeneial ot the Lengal Stall and given •£IO,OOO. I his is the man on whose iVeport and judgment above all others rests •the chances of a war that may change ihe entire map ol Central Asia.