CHAPTER III 



1825-1854 



With dominions that comprise the whole breadth of great 

 continents, and with subjects taxing man's powers of computa- 

 tion, it is an easy thing for monarchs to disagree; it is none 

 the less so in an atoll with a population of less than two 

 hundred souls, and an area of a few square miles, when two 

 rulers attempt to wield their independent sceptres. There 

 were no methods sanctioned by tradition in the government of 

 the Islands and trouble arose early, and general disagreement 

 continued without remission until the dual rule came to an 

 inglorious end. 



The two rival factions had settled in the atoll for very 

 different reasons ; Hare elected to come to Cocos because he 

 was in some ditgrace at home, for he had not satisfactorily 

 settled his financial dealings with the East India Company — 

 and he was glad to seek some secluded corner of the globe, 

 where he could dwell free from all interference from his 

 creditors ; and free too from the prying eye of civilisation, 

 that would look askance at his harem and his manner of 

 living. With Ross Primus it was a shrewd business instinct, 

 coupled with his love for the sea, that guided him to the 

 atoll ; for he saw the commercial advantages that Cocos- 

 Keeling afforded. 



In those days the Eastern produce, spices, coffee, and 

 pepper, was sold from Eastern ports with great rapidity ; and 

 as the crops arrived at the coast only tAvice in the year much 

 time was wasted for the ships engaged in the trade, for no 

 reserve cargoes were kept, and a ship would have to wait long 

 for her load, and take it aboard at the tardy convenience of 

 the native merchants. Now Ross saw that a man with a 



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