CHAP. IX.J FOR THE NATIVES ? 151 



particularly in cases where a native reserve becomes 

 desirable to the local administration, or for govern- 

 ment purposes an instance of which has already 

 occurred. It is far better to treat with the natives 

 for the purchase of their right in such a spot at once, 

 than to have afterwards the disgusting spectacle of 

 seeing the land, inch by inch, come by indirect means 

 into the hands of the Europeans. 



II. Her Majesty's ministers having decided that 

 government should have the first right of purchas- 

 ing the remaining land from the natives, there is 

 the best possible opportunity for giving them in ex- 

 change for it such articles as will be of permanent 

 and increasing value to them, and will raise their 

 condition as peasants. In almost all the purchases 

 of land which have been made by private indivi- 

 duals, the purchase-money consisted of guns, gun- 

 powder, lead, blankets, tobacco, and pipes ; and in 

 several purchases which were made by government, 

 flour and blankets formed the greater part of the 

 payment. All these articles lose their value in a 

 very short time, and are not of much advantage to 

 the natives, as they can procure them by barter 

 for their produce. Live-stock and agricultural im- 

 plements are now the articles in greatest request, 

 and, indeed, the most essential to their welfare. It 

 would be expected that, having so many missionary 

 establishments amongst them, they would already 

 be in possession of stock ; but this, except in one or 

 two instances, is not the case ; and the only way in 



