ao 
OFFICIAL MEETING AT BAU. 181 
The King replied: “The arrangement respecting the 
cession entered into with Mr. Consul Pritchard is still 
in full force, and shall not be disturbed by any foreign 
Power.” 
“ Great Britain,” continued Colonel Smythe, “ pro- 
duces many things that Fiji does not, and vice versd, so 
that by an exchange of products the two countries would 
be mutually benefited. I refer especially to cotton, 
which grows luxuriantly in Fiji, and is valuable in 
England.” 
The King replied: “I am fully aware of it; and in 
consequence of what Mr. Consul Pritchard told me at 
the interview at Levuka, about the desirableness of cul- 
tivating this article, I have directed it to be planted, and 
my commands have been carried out to some extent.” 
“In ceding the country,” Colonel Smythe resumed, 
“every man will retain his own property and land, and 
everybody will be protected, so that a stop will be put to 
the fearful feuds that have decimated the population.” 
The King rejoined: “There may be people in the 
group who at present cannot fully appreciate that idea; 
but it is somewhat like Christianity, which, though a 
blessing, is looked upon with prejudiced eyes by many 
not familiar with its beneficial tendency.” 
When the chiefs and landholders were asked whether 
they had any observation to make, they remained mute, 
and at the conclusion of the whole raised shouts of 
approval. All then retired, and nothing more was said 
except what has been stated in substance above. Colo- 
nel Smythe states, in one of his official communications, 
as printed in the Blue-books, that the King “could not 
KQ 
