OFFICIAL MEETING AT BAU. 131 



The King replied : " The arrangement respecting the 

 cession entered into with Mr. Consul Pritchard is still 

 in full force, and shall not be disturbed by any foreign 

 Power." 



" Great Britain," continued Colonel Smythe, " pro- 

 duces many things that Fiji does not, and vice versa, so 

 that by an exchange of products the two countries would 

 be mutually benefited. I refer especially to cotton, 

 which grows luxuriantly in Fiji, and is valuable in 

 England." 



The King replied : "I am fully aware of it ; and in 

 consequence of what Mr. Consul Pritchard told me at 

 the interview 7 at Levuka, about the desirableness of cul- 

 tivating this article, I have directed it to be planted, and 

 my commands have been carried out to some extent." 



" In cedin'g the country," Colonel Smythe resumed, 

 " every man will retain his own property and land, and 

 everybody will be protected, so that a stop will be put to 

 the fearful feuds that have decimated the population." 



The King rejoined: "There may be people in the 

 group who at present cannot fully appreciate that idea ; 

 but it is somewhat like Christianity, which, though a 

 blessing, is looked upon with prejudiced eyes by many 

 not familiar with its beneficial tendency." 



When the chiefs and landholders were asked whether 

 they had any observation to make, they remained mute, 

 and at the conclusion of the whole raised shouts of 

 approval. All then retired, and nothing more was said 

 except what has been stated in substance above. Colo- 

 nel Smythe states, in one of his official communications, 

 as printed in the Blue-books, that the King " could not 



K 2 



