ARCHIBALD FORBES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 154, 30 June 1879, Page 4

ARCHIBALD FORBES.

" At the heed of ibe craft of special correspondents,' there ie,' lbe?&ple remarks, "a well known writer, rendered famous by his exploits during the Franco-German end RussoTuikish Wars, whose brilliancy I of style is not less contpicuous than his extraordinary physical strength and courage. Hie more recent wanderings in search of exciting news began with a rapid flight to .Cyprus. The field there proved rather sterile, for there is nothing sensational in the process of gradually creating order out of chaos, the island was dubbed a ' fiasco,' and our knight •errant looked about for more promising ground. It presented itself almost immediately in Afghanistan, whither the wanderer proceeded in hot baete. He casually dropped in, however, at Simla, although this involved a considerable deflection from the shortest road to the frontier, but the halt did not prevent his presence at Peshawur at (he outbreak of hostilities. Here be WBB comfortably circumslauced at last, with plenty of fresh excitement every day, so long as the Afghans showed a bold front. But life grew wearisome amid the monotony of Jellalabad, and be accordingly paid a flying visit to Lahore, Backwards and forwards he then oscillated between the city and the front, until the dearth of news became unbearable, when aojtno bird of the air whispered to him that there might be stirring work in Burmah, and he accordingly made a 'bee line ' for Mandalay, a distance of fully 9000 miles, by rail, sea, end river. Having only a few daya at his disposal, he lost do time in obtaining an interview with King Thee Baw, which passed off without an exhibition ,by the latter of the fatal spear of King Tharawaddi. This being accomplished, the pilgrim started off again for LahoW, forihe purpose of being within bjail of the frontier on the renewal of the Afghan campaign. Scarcely had iho reached the Punjaub capital, however, when the terrible news of the laandula disaster made him turn longing eyes towards South Africa. The Cape is not very accessible from Lahore, aa no steamers go there direct either frpm Bombay or Calcutta. But what are such trifling difficulties to a restless 'special' t Nothing at all in the case in question. For within a very few days the wanderer was off en route to Kurrachee, whtnce a steamer would convey him to Aden, and another carry him thence to Zululand. A glncja at the map will ebow that this gentleman has managed to get through a vast deal, of ' globe-trotting ' within a brief period, besides contributing largely to .tke English Press, and embarking in various controversies in India." Mr Forbes is, of- course, the " special " referred to.