"What's he been saying?" I asked, when he had done.

"O, just that they're glad to see you, and they understand by me
you wish to make some kind of complaint, and you're to fire away,
and they'll do the square thing."

"It took a precious long time to say that," said I.

"O, the rest was sawder and BONJOUR and that," said Case. "You
know what Kanakas are."

"Well, they don't get much BONJOUR out of me," said I. "You tell
them who I am. I'm a white man, and a British subject, and no end
of a big chief at home; and I've come here to do them good, and
bring them civilisation; and no sooner have I got my trade sorted
out than they go and taboo me, and no one dare come near my place!
Tell them I don't mean to fly in the face of anything legal; and if
what they want's a present, I'll do what's fair. I don't blame any
man looking out for himself, tell them, for that's human nature;
but if they think they're going to come any of their native ideas
over me, they'll find themselves mistaken. And tell them plain
that I demand the reason of this treatment as a white man and a
British subject."

That was my speech. I know how to deal with Kanakas: give them
plain sense and fair dealing, and - I'll do them that much justice
- they knuckle under every time. They haven't any real government
or any real law, that's what you've got to knock into their heads;
and even if they had, it would be a good joke if it was to apply to
a white man. It would be a strange thing if we came all this way