A CHAT WITH SIR K. W. GUMMING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7271, 9 March 1885, Page 5

A CHAT WITH SIR K. W. GUMMING.

Among the passengers by the s.s. Australia for Auckland ia Sir K. W. Camming, who u on a tour of travel round the world. A Herald representative interviewed him last:, evening at the Star Hotel, who elicited the following particulars daring a conversation : — The family seat i» Coulter, on the river Dee, ■ the family belonging to Aberdeenshire, North Britain. Sir K. W. Cumming was educated at Edinburgh, and subsequently entered the Army, • serving in the Artillery, retiring from the service two years ago. He has spent all his furloughs in travel, and iB now devoting the remainder of his life to the same object. This is his first visit to New Zealand, though he has travelled through nearly every part of the globe. In 1863 he went via the Cape to India, and then visited Burmah, China, Japan, and Ceylon. ■ Returned to England and served lour years on the home station, travelling at intervals through Germany, and the South of Europe. In 1870 went to Cashmere, Afghanistan, and Tartary, and on returning to Scotland after a short ■ rest, started on a tour over Central Europe, and thence to British North America. In 1879, he went again to India for a year, travelling over the Madras Presidency and the Malabar Coast. On going back to England, made another tour of the Continent, and went to Munich, to see the Passion Play at Oberammergau. in 1881, made another trip to India, and travelled through Central India, including the Nizam's dominions. Went from Central India to- . China,; Japan, and thence through tbe wHdleof; the' States and territories of the American Union. On arrival home, in 18S2, after a little repose, went on a tour to Northern Europe, in eluding Norway", Sweden, Lapland and Russia. In 1883, travelled Ireland, Iceland, Western Isles, and North Africa; Last year he joined General Gordon, : tat Brindisi, and went with him to Egypt, 'and accompanied him up the Nile, to the Second Cataract. He had first "made General Gordon's acquaintance in China, and bad also served with his brother in the artillery. Sir K.W. Cumming came back to Cairo with General Gerald Graham. He then went to Palestine through the desert,, M t far u .a£. Damascus, subsequently visiting Turkey rand Greece, thence returning homewards, -making a stay at Edinburgh, where he met Baker Pasha, who was recovering from his wound. • From thence last October he started on his seoond tour round the world, going to South America, and on to 'Frisco via Panama. It is his intention to go through New Zealand and Australasia, visiting also Fiji, New Caledonia, Java, Borneo, St. Helena, and south Africa, and thence home via Madeira and Teneriffe. GORDON REMINISCENCES. Sir K. W. Camming states that on the voyage up the Nile, General Gordon was gloomy and silent, as if he had a presentiment of his fate. He never came to the table, or spoke to the company. Occasionally he would address a few words, in whispers, to Colonel Stewart. The mental strain occasioned by the responsibilities of his mission appeared to affect his mind, and gave one an impression of fanaticism. Hekepttheseclusion of his cabin, aud occasionally would peer out of the door with a suspicious and excited look. Occasionally he would come out about eleven o'clock' at night, sit silently smoking a cigar t) then get up with a simple " Good night," and return to his cabin again. Some of the company ventured to ask Colonel Stewart why General Gordon acted in that way. Stewart simply shrugged his shoulders and said "It is Gordon's way, he is peculiar, but I like him." Sir K. W. Cumming says Stewart was a quiet, gentlemanly fellow, who from his amiability was loved by all. He was wholly devoted to Gordon, and the affection was mutual, as Stewart was the only man of whom he made a confidant. Both officers were extremely reticent as to the future and their plans. General Gordon, however, seemed to think his personal influence would carry everything, and conquer every difficulty. It was strange to see him clad in poor apparel—the humblest-looking of the company—and the officers coming and going, bowing before him, clad in most gorgeous uniforms. EGYPTIAN AFFAIRS. On leaving General Gordon at the Second Cataract, Sir K. W. Gumming met General Gerald Graham, who showed him the telegram from home appointing him to the expedition to Suakim, and he came down the Nile with him. The General expressed his opinion that they were in for some hard fighting before they got out of the'Sondan business. On returning to Cairo he intended to have accompanied General Graham's expedition, but General Stephenson declined him permissionas a non-combatant. While in Cairo he visited the bazaars, in order to ascertain the views of the European colony and of the natives respecting the Egyptian and Soudan difficulty. The European residents were in a complete state of bewilderment at the state of affairs, and were at a loss to know what Gladstone meant. One day troops were to be sent, another day they were to be withdrawn. Now Egypt was to be held, then again it was to be evacuated. All this vaccillation and backing and filling had a most disastrous effect upon the native mind, and inspired simply feelings of contempt in the breasts of those who made up the foreign colony. There was not the slightest prospect of the English leaving Egypt. The thing was an impossibility. Circumstances were too strong for Mr..Gladstone, and they would stay there whether he wished it or not. Probably the Soudan would be given up to Turkey to manage, a3 it was a nuisance in every respect. INDIAN AFFAIRS.

As an officer who had served in India and travelled in Afghanistan, Sir K. W. Gumming takes a lively interest in Indian affairs, and was anxious to know the latest intelligence concerning the Afghan boundary difficulty. His opinion was that if Earl Beaconsfield had been allowed to carry out his Indian policy the present trouble would never have arisen, at all events the struggle would have been postponed for a generation. It was too late now to remedy that mistake, and, the contest for empire between Russia and India would yet have to be fought on the plains of India. Anyone who had travelled in Afghanistan —who had seen the character of the oountry and its wild passes— understand the difficulty under which Russia would labour in an invasion of India. Even with strategic railways the difficulty of feeding • an army, and , .keeping,,, it- supplied with munitions of war,, so far from a good base, would be enormous. The moment a Russian army debouched from the passes on the plains of India, .they.. be confronted with a European army of 60,000 men, with a rich • country- behind it, and a native army drawn from the hill tribes and the most warlike sections of the population of India, half a milling strong, who wanted nothing better than fighting. A Russian army suffering defeat in i such a'position, would either be annihilated or gointoxjaptivity. The Afghans would cut them to pieces in the retreat; not that they had any great hatred to Russians, or Jove fop the British, but just for pure love of fighting and, devilment. In view of the physical difficulties of the route which would have to be taken by the 'Russians in invading British India, he regarded any serious attempt of the kind as impracticable for a generation or two to come. THE ISLE OF SKYE CROFTERS. While travelling in the Isle of Skye, Sir K. W. Cumming met Mr. McLeod (chieftain of the McLeods), of Dunveggan Castle, and had a long chat with him respecting the crofter difficulty. Mr. McLeod owns about half the island, the other large owner being Lord Macdonald of the Isles. Mr. McLeod said the troubles had all arisen out of the Irish agitatfon. Outside persons, professional agitators, came to the island, and poisoned the minds of the simple peasantry, ■and made them believe that tha land belonged to them. Mr. McLeod stated that in his case, at all events, that statement was untrue, as his deeds showed the great .proportion of the lands held by him had been purchased by himself or his family. His tenantry had no cause for complaint, as he was a liberal landlord. But for professional agitators there would be no trouble. AMERICAN REMINISCENCES. Sir. K. W. Cumming says nothing gratified him more during his travels in America than the good will shown towards Great Britain in the present crisis, and he is satisfied that in the event of any great European complication imperilling England's position, America would not stand calmly aside and see her crushed. Everywhere, with the native-born American it was the same sentiment prevailed, when he conversed with them, "Blood is thicker than water." As in the case of man and wifv, America claimed

the privilege of abusing, her.old mother now and then, and growling at her, but she would suffer none else to do , it,• if matters ; took » serious tarn. . ; '-.fj i ; '.> • • '.;