while supping with the English sailor, at the village where he was to
sleep, he heard a noise, and found the Frenchman, Pere Montrouzier,
had arrived. He was apparently about forty; intelligent, very
experienced in mission work, and conversant with the habits and
customs of French and English in the colonies; moreover, with plenty
of firmness in putting forward his cause. He seems to have been
supported by the State in a manner unusual with French missions.

'I had one point only that I was determined to press (Patteson says),
namely, liberty to the people to follow any form of religion they
might choose to adopt. I knew that they and I were completely in his
power, yet that my line was to assume that we were now about to
arrange our plans for the future independently of any interference
from the civil power.

'He let me see that he knew he could force upon the Lifu people
whatever he pleased, the French Government having promised him any
number of soldiers he may send for to take possession, if necessary,
of the island. They have 1,000 men in New Caledonia, steamers and
frigates of war; and he told me plainly that this island and Nengone
are considered as natural appendages of New Caledonia, and
practically French possessions already, so that, of course, to
attempt doing more than secure for the people a religious liberty is
out of the question. He promised me that if the people behaved
properly to him and his people, he would not send for the soldiers,
nor would he do anything to interfere with the existing state of the
island.

'He will not himself remain here long, being commissioned, in
consequence of his fourteen years' experience, to prepare the way for