'It is, I suppose, true, that civilised nations do not acknowledge
the right of a chief to prevent any one of his subjects from selling
a plot of his land to a foreigner unless they may be at war with that
particular nation.

'He said that France would not allow a savage chief to say "My custom
in this respect is different from yours;" and again, "This is not a
taking possession. It is merely requiring the right to put up a
cottage for which I pay the just price." He told me plainly, if the
chiefs did not allow him to do so, he would send for soldiers and put
it up by force; but not use the soldiers for any other purpose. Of
course I shall relate all this to Angadhohua at Mu, and make them
consent.

'He told me that at New Caledonia they had reserved inalienably one-
tenth of the land for the natives, that the rest would be sold to
French colonists of the poor class, no one possessing more than ten
acres; that 5,000 convicts would be sent there, and the ticket-of-
leave system adopted, and that he thought the worst and most
incorrigible characters would be sent to Lifu. Poor John! But I
can't help him; he must make such terms as he can, for he and his
people are wholly in their power.

'Our talk being ended, I found a great circle of men assembled on the
outside with a pile of yams as usual in the centre for me. I was
glad to see a small pile also for the Frenchman. I made my speech in
his presence, but he knows not Lifu. "Be kind to the French, give
them food and lodging. This is a duty which you are bound to pay to
all men; but if they try to persuade you to change the teaching which
you have received, don't listen to them. Who taught you to leave off