130 A MISSION TO VITI. 



" Translated by us, before whom the above Chiefs made their 

 marks, this 15th day of August, 1860 : 



" JAMES S. H. ROYCE; CHAELES WISE. 



" I hereby ratify the above cession, Navua, Sept. 4th, 1860. 



" KUEUDUADUA, (his x mark) . 



" Witnesses to signature : 



" BEETHOLD SEEMANN, Ph.D. ; W. T. PEITCHAED, Consul." 



Precisely at eleven o'clock on the morning of the 27th 

 of July, the King fired a salute. When arriving at the 

 place of meeting, the royal residence, we found the King 

 and Queen, both dressed in European fashion, the former 

 in a blue uniform, seated on chairs, of which several had 

 been arranged in a semicircle for our use. There were 

 present, besides Colonel Smythe, Mr. Pritchard and my- 

 self, Messrs. Fordham and Collis from the mission, not 

 to mention the ladies. Ratu Abel, the King's eldest 

 son, a fine-looking fellow, was absent, but sent for, and 

 the chiefs and principal landholders soon dropped in, all 

 dressed in native costume. Mr. Fordham interpreted 

 for Colonel Smythe, Mr. Charles Wise for Mr. Pritchard. 

 I wrote down all at the time, and the following, obtained 

 from both sources, may be regarded as a faithful resume 

 of what was spoken : 



" It having been represented to Her Britannic Ma- 

 jesty," said Colonel Smythe, addressing King Cakobau, 

 " that the King and Chiefs of Fiji are disposed to 

 become British subjects, her Majesty has directed an 

 inquiry to be made into the matter, and hear what King 

 and Chiefs have to say on the subject, in order that it 

 may be reported to her." 



