FATHER ANDERSON'S INTERESTING INTERVIEW AT COLOMBO.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 19, 26 February 1892, Page 15

FATHER ANDERSON'S INTERESTING INTERVIEW AT COLOMBO.

A »biknd hat placed at our (National Press) disposal a letter written on board R.M.S. Ormuz. of the Orient Line, on November 18, by Very Rev Father Anderson, O.S.A, Limerick, who, it will be remembered, was comiesicned at a meeting of the chapter of his order in Dublin a few months ago to proceed to Australia, and collect there on behalf of the fund for building St. Patrick's National Church at Rome. It contains a very interesting account of an interview he had at Colombo with the exiled leader of the Egyptian National Party, whose case is likely to be heard of in the coming session of Parliament. We make the following extracts :—

We arrived at Colombo on Monday, November 2, having taken eleven days from Port Said. One passenger died, and found a watery grave in the Red Sea. Oa reaching Colombo I visited Arabi Pasha, in company with a friend who waa on board— a Mr Fitzpatrick of Clones, Co Monasrhan, who was returning to Queensland to see after some property of his in that colony. After a short delay in getting on shore, we got into the Cingalese equivalent for a carriage, and directed the native coachman to drive us as quickly as he could to the residence of the Egyptian chief. The rain came down in torrents the whole way — a distance of three miles. The scenery along the ronte was simply enchanting. An endless train of carriers, driving buffaloes and bullocks, blocked the entire route. It took us about an hoar and a half to get to Arabi 's house. This building is of only one storey, bat is spacious, with a portico, supported by pillars, the entire length of tbe house. When we arrived — about 3 p.m. — I took out my card, expecting that I would meet an attendant who would take it to his maßter. No one appeared except a couple of very small and very brown children, with but little clothing, and no shoes or stockings. No one else putting in an appearance, we made for a small room on the left of the hall of the dwelling, but as we were doing so a loud voice came from a dark room on the right, directing us to be seated on a sofa in the hall. We did as we were bid, and while doing so we observed a huge form seated very low. At first I thought it might be Arabi's servant getting through some work, and that finished he would announce our arrival. When I found the minutes pass without any indication that we were to be attended to, I turned towards the person seated, and then observed bat, whoever he was, be was engaged at some religious ceremony . He was wrapped in a white garment, but his shoulders, arms, and feet, as well as his head, were bare. A woman who assisted him in the ceremony poured water now on one arm, then oa another, the man the while engaged in constant prayer, and wrapped apparently in deep devotion. After the ablution of the hands and arms, water was poured on the head many times out of a handsome bronze ewer, the liquid falling into a large basin of the same material. Now I began to suspect that I bad before me the object of my visit— instead of his servant, as I bad at first supposed him to be. All this took a very long *ime — in fact, I thought that it would never come to an end — and we had none to spare. The ablution of the feet came next, and, this finished, the woman took away the ewer. " Now," I said, " this business in at an end." But I calculated without knowledge. He was only half through. He put on his stockings, a loose jacket and a white scull cap, and now began praying, genuflecting, and prostrations profound. By this time I had no doubt the remarkablelooking man before me was Arabi, and though time pressed I determined to Bee it out. Prayers and prostrations, however, like everything else, come to an end ; and when Arabi's had ended, forth came as fine a looking man as you could with to see — 'tall, broadshouldered, and large limbed, with a commanding presence, and rather a European style of face. He gave us his hand in a very cordial way, and welcomed us to his house in fairly good English. In the conversation that followed, he showed a remarkable acquaintance with the Irish question, and was evidently very appreciative of any sympathy shown him. He felt keenly at the separation from those of his wives and children who are in Egypt. Six of his children are in Ceylon. He has to support a married son who lives near him, and about twenty of bis own household and retinae. I believe £600 a year is his allowance from the British. He had hopes of being restored to freedom, bat submitted himself in everything to the will of God. There was a photograph banging on tbe wall. He directed my attention to it and aßked me did I " know

that gentleman." I had to reply in the negative. The picture was very faded. "That," he said, "ia my friend Wilfrid Blunt." I replied I bad had the pleasure of meeting him onca ia my native •own in Ireland. The information that his friend had suffered imprisonment for Ireland was not new to him. The conversation turning on the state of his own health, Arabi betrayed considerable appreheusion on the subject. Five years, he said, was the longest period for which non-natives could hope to preserve their health ia Colombo. He was now suffering f i om rheumatism, and he greatly feared he would get cataract of the eve. His sight was failing him. A servant brought in three glasses filled with sherbert— Atabi explaiued that Mohammedans were not permitted to drink wine— and in this mixture of water and lemon juice we drank his health. I endeavoured to return his hospitality by producing my box of IrishFrench snuff, and to my astonishment he returned tbe compliment in kind, explaining that his Bnuff was made by himself — " with these hands." As it was getting dark we were now very hard pressed for | time. We stood up to take our leave, again assuring him of our sympathy, and expressing a sincere desire that he might be soon again a free man. He expressed his gratitude, and with his son accompanied us to the portico, and, with many bows and good wishes, we parted. We were both greatly phased with tbe distinguished exile. He appeared to be slightly on tbe shady side of sixty.

We arrived at Adelaide November 16. lam happy to tell you there was a fine Home Rule spirit on board, and the cause had a great champion in a Protestant youug lady from the North of Ireland —a Miss Ussher. I was proud of her aa a countrywoman.