THE CHIEF OF THE FISHERMEN. 123 



thing in their power to advance their true interest. Be 

 it known, that interference in politics on the part of 

 the "Wesleyan missionaries is decidedly disapproved of 

 by their Board at home, and that stringent instructions 

 are published to that effect. 



The Chief of the Fishermen, an important body in 

 Bau, is a scheming fellow, who more than once 

 caused mischief. On one occasion, when some British 

 interest was involved, Mr. Pritchard, who, born and 

 bred in Polynesia, is perfectly familiar with native 

 modes of thought, and owes a great deal of his influ- 

 ence to it, wished to impress the chief with the idea 

 that whatever plots he was hatching they were sure 

 to be found out by those more clever than himself.* In- 

 stead of stating this in such language as one European 

 would use to another, he said to the native, " As Chief 

 of the Fishermen, you know all the fishes, the small 

 as well as the big, and of course the turtle, according 

 to your notions the king of the whole." The Chief 

 smiled assent, flattering himself that by the turtle he 

 himself was alluded to. To the great delight of the 

 bystanders, the Consul continued : " Familiar with all 



* Commodore J. B. Seymour, writing to the Lords Commissioners of 

 the Admiralty, in a letter dated, Auckland, September 2, 1861, and pub- 

 lished in the ' Correspondence relating to the Fiji Islands,' presented to 

 both Houses of Parliament by command of her Majesty, May, 1862, 

 seemed also favourably impressed with Mr. Pritchard's way of dealing 

 with the natives : " I cannot conclude this letter," he writes, " without 

 expressing the obligations I am under to Mr. Pritchard, whose manner 

 with the native chiefs (being neither too deferential nor the reverse) seemed 

 to me to be exactly what it should be. He speaks the language, and is 

 evidently liked by all parties of Fijians ; and without his ready assist- 

 ance ... it would havebeen impossible to arrive at so speedy a settlement 

 of affairs." 



