A Remarkable Example of Decline. 



was a bit of a farce. However, the fine, what- 

 ever the amount might have been, remained 

 unpaid until, in the course of a few years, with 

 the interest it mounted to nine thousand pounds. 

 Then certain speculators formed a syndicate 

 which was to relieve the natives of this em- 

 barassment ; this precious scheme was termed 

 the " Polynesian Land Syndicate," or some such 

 title, and its members agreed to pay the 

 Americans out ; " to give Cakobau "200 per 

 annum, to each of his chiefs , and to assist 

 Cakobau in upholding and defending his king- 

 dom. In return they were to have 160,000 acres 

 of land of their own choice, the sole right of 

 levying duties on imports and exports, with 

 wharfage and harbour dues, the sole right of 

 banking and issuing of bank-notes, a pre-emptive 

 right over all land which Cakobau might here- 

 after wish to sell, and full power to make laws 

 for the good Government and welfare of the 

 natives and settlers at any time." 



By another clause, Cakobau was " to clear and 

 plant with sea island cotton for the said com- 

 pany, without delay or charge, acres of the 

 land, at such places and times, as the company 

 should direct." 



Cakobau's mark was actually put to this 

 document, when another factor appeared in the 

 shape of the British Government. The claims 

 of the Polynesian Company were ignored 

 altogether. The Americans were paid out with 

 45,000 dollars, and the British Government was 

 to receive 200,000 acres of land of its own 

 choosing, 



59 



