Purnzips.— Civilization of the Pacific. 73 
At the same time, it is only fair to state that there are many whaling 
captains who treated the natives in a Christianlike manner. Of late years 
the whaling industry has greatly fallen off. Whether the United States 
Government will claim any portion of the Navigator Group is an open 
question. On February 17, 1872, Maunga, Pango chief of Pango, Tutuila, 
signed a treaty or agreement with Commander Meade, of the United States 
s.s. Narrganseit, granting the exclusive right to the United States Govern- 
ment of using that harbour as a coaling and naval station for a private line 
of steamers running between San Francisco and New Zealand, and their 
_own ships of war, and binding himself not to grant a like privilege to any 
other power. This agreement was made to depend upon its ratification by 
the United States Government. In the same year the chiefs of Samoa 
petitioned President Grant for protection. No action has yet been taken by 
the Senate in either of these matters. 
England. 
Until October, 1874, English action in the Pacific was confined to 
private energy and enterprise. The Imperial Government paid no atten- 
tion to the hoisting of ensigns and taking possession of islands in England's 
name by discoverers and captains of men-of-war; Pitcairn Island, however, 
being an exception. On November 29, 1838, Captain Elliot, in H.M.S. 
“Fly,” took possession of this island, memorable for having afforded refuge to 
the mutineers of the Bounty. A brief account of the matter may be inter- 
esting. Captain Bligh stated that the original cause of the mutiny was the 
connection formed by the crew, while at Tahiti, with the Tahitian women; 
but the islanders flatly deny the assertion, and attribute it to his own 
perverse temper and tyrannical conduct. Putting Bligh and seventeen of 
the crew in an open boat, off Tofoa, one of the Friendly islands, April 28, 
1789, the mutineers sailed for Toubouai, where they attempted to establish 
themselves, but the natives were too hostile. Returning to Tahiti, some of 
the mutineers landed, but the remaining (Christian and eight men), keeping 
their place of destination secret, took the vessel on to Pitcairn Island, where 
they burnt her, January 23, 1790. Those who remained at Tahiti were 
picked up by the “Pandora,” which frigate was sent out in search as soon as 
Bligh returned to England. In 1808 the American ship ** Topaz" discovered 
the retreat of the mutineers, and in 1814 H.M. ships “Britain” and ** Tagus " 
touched at the island. In 1838 it was taken possession of by England, and 
in 1850 the greater number of the inhabitants, at their own request, were 
removed to Norfolk Island, having outgrown their diminutive home. 
Norfolk Island is also British territory, the English Government having 
twice used it as a convict station. Captain Cook was its discoverer. Until 
1788 the island had remained uninhabited, but in that year a small number 
I 
