Granite Crags

Constance Frederica "Eka" Gordon-Cumming (1837- 1924) was a travel writer and painter. Her parents were Sir William Gordon-Cumming, 2nd Baronet, and Elizabeth Maria (Campbell) Cumming. She was the aunt of Sir William Gordon-Cumming, 4th Baronet. She was educated at Fulham, London. She taught herself how to paint, and had help from artists visiting her home, including one of Queen Victoria's favourite painters, Sir Edwin Landseer. After spending a year in India in 1867, she became interested in travel. Places she visited include: Australia, New Zealand, America, Hawaii, China and Japan. Her best known books are At Home in Fiji and A Lady's Cruise on a French Man-of-War. The latter book resulted from an invitation to join a French ship put into service for the Bishop of Samoa so that he could visit remote parts of his far-flung diocese.