THE CHIEF OF THE FISHERMEN. 123 
thing in their power to advance their true interest. Be 
it known, that interference in politics on the part of 
the Wesleyan missionaries is decidedly disapproved of 
by their Board at home, and that stringent instructions 
are published to that effect. 
The Chief of the Fishermen, an important body in 
Bau, is a scheming fellow, who more than once 
caused mischief. On one occasion, when some British 
interest was involved, Mr. Pritchard; who, born and 
bred in Polynesia, is perfectly familiar with native 
modes of thought, and owes a great deal of his influ- 
ence to it, wished to impress the chief with the idea 
that whatever plots he was hatching they were sure 
to be found out by those more clever than himself.* In- 
stead of stating this in such language as one European 
would use to another, he said to the native, “ As Chief 
of the Fishermen, you know all the fishes, the small 
as well as the big, and of course the turtle, according 
to your notions the king of the whole.” The Chief 
smiled assent, flattering himself that by the turtle he 
himself was alluded to. To the great delight of the 
bystanders, the Consul continued :—“ Familiar with all 
* Commodore J. B. Seymour, writing to the Lords Commissioners of 
the Admiralty, in a letter dated, Auckland, September 2, 1861, and pub- 
lished in the ‘ Correspondence relating to the Fiji Islands,’ presented to 
both Houses of Parliament by command of her Majesty, May, 1862, 
seemed also favourably impressed with Mr. Pritchard’s way of dealing 
with the natives :—‘‘ I cannot conclude this letter,”’ he writes, “ without 
expressing the obligations I am under to Mr. Pritchard, whose manner 
with the native chiefs (being neither too deferential nor the reverse) seemed 
tome to be exactly what it should be. He speaks the language, and is 
evidently liked by all parties of Fijians; and without his ready assist- 
ance... it would havebeen impossible to arrive at so speedy a settlement 
of affairs.” 
