CHIEF SEES LONDON

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 268, 12 November 1935, Page 23

CHIEF SEES LONDON

AFRICAN'S REACTIONS.

WARRIOR'S AMAZEMENT,

"NOT TET CONQUERED DEATH"

Chief Kumalo, the Matabele warrior who has conic to England to play the part of his Ancestor, Lobengula, in the Gaumont-British film, "Rhodes," has, with his two native attendants, spent the past few days in seeing the marvels of London, stated an English, paper recently. The chieftain's comments, made in the picturesque language of simile and metaphor commonly used by his people, form a revealing sidelight on the world's greatest city, as seen for the first time Iγ a South. African native nobleman who had never previously been beyond Bulawayo. Tho marvels of the underground railway impressed the chieftain, but his remark was to the point. "The moving stairs, and the rushing trains, are wonderful," he remarked. "But to go beneath tho earth thus is to become a mole; besides, there is nothing to sec from the train!" A visit to the Crystal Palace brought forth further comments. "See!" said Kumalo, pointing to the statues in the huge building. "We in Africa give offerings to the spirits of our Great Ones; but you make images of them in stone, so that their memory may never fade, and their children's children may see and remember." He noticed a classical figure with bow and quiverful of arrows. "Did the white man, too, make war with bow?" ho asked. "Why, then, our very method of warfare originated with the white man!" The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace delighted the three African tribesmen. As warriors, they are vastly impressed by the splendour and precision of tho military display, and the physique and fine bearing of the guardsmen drew forth admiring comments from tho old campaigner. The Natural History Mueeum delighted them; they were amazed that the white men of Britain could bring their children to see tho stuffed forme of beaste from South Africa, well known to themselves. The Flight. But Kumalo'e greatest adventure took place at Croydon Airport, where Imperial Airways authorities received him and hie two companions, and showed them the wonders of modern flight. They had, of course, seen aeroplanes in flight, but had never Been a machine at cloee quarters. They sat in the huge fourengined Paris 'plane, and marvelled at its size and comfort. Then a flight wae suggested in a smaller machine. At first the chief demurred. "But you have seen the groat machines fly in tho air, O chief," eaid one of his attendants. "How much easier, therefore, must it bo for that little one to fly!" Eventually, 1 Kumalo accepted the invitation, and was soon high over London. He was delighted by the sight of huge buildings.dwindling to the eizo of toye, and of tiny streets crowded with people like ants. "Are you etill fearful!" asked Mr. -Poseelt, tho retired Native Commissioner from Rhodesia, who is acting as the chief's adviser and interpreter. "Not now," replied Kumalo. "Once the warrior entere the battle, he forgets ail fear!" Kumalo'e summing-up of hisimpreeeions is touching in its obvious sincerity. "My eyes are tied with looking at marvels," ho eaye. "My jaws are stiff with talking of the marvele we have seen. But O white men, who have made 60 many wonders, why have you not yet conquered death?"