18G THE CRUISE OF THE ' CUBAQOA.' 



transaction was complete when it received the chief's mark, 

 who was induced to sign it by threats or cajolery, but 

 frequently by making him drunk beforehand. As the 

 boundaries of these estates are generally very vaguely laid 

 down, and as the class most interested in these lands have 

 been seldom consulted in these sales, it is probable that 

 many of the purchasers will find great opposition whenever 

 they come to take possession of their property. 



As each tribe for security confined itself to a certain tract 

 of country, the Wliite settlers have chosen now to recognise 

 every such tract as the property of the tribe. This idea 

 facilitated the purchase of land, and the natives were pleased 

 to find that they possessed something to which the White 

 traders attached a value. When payment came to be made 

 for tlie purchased land, every one considered that he had a 

 right to be separately dealt with, if he had ever been con- 

 nected with any part of the land in question ; so the head 

 chiefs, the minor chiefs, and each owner of a yam patch, or 

 cocoa-nut tree, required compensation and a share of the 

 purchase money. When unsuccessful, they endeavoured to 

 throw every obstacle in the way of those who proposed to 

 enjoy the purchased land. 



The value of exports has shown an upward tendency 

 lately, having increased from £13,000 in 1863 to £20,000 

 in 1864. This remarkable increase has occurred principally 

 in cotton, cocoa-nut oil, and fibre ; other exports are tortoise 

 shell, Beche-de-Mer, and wool. 



The cultivation of cotton has now become the principal 



