186 Letter XTT1, 
down, you will have to work hard, in a hot and enervating 
climate where much caution is required to keep off fever and 
ague ; you require capital to start any business with, and you’ 
will be very much the better of some practical experience. 
You have no society, save that of the savages—unless you hap- 
pen to be near some missionary station, or some planter or 
trader’s establishment; but these are few and far between, 
while many of the owners are not at all preferable to the 
blackfellows. 
Supposing, however, that you have decided to come, in spite 
of every disadvantage—that you have plenty of pluck and some 
capital—then proceed to Sydney. There get what machinery 
and provisions you want, not forgetting the frame and boards of 
a house—for you will find no hotels when you arrive here. 
Next, get a passage, either direct or v74@ New Caledonia by the 
monthly mail steamer, and arrive here in time to commence 
cotton planting. The first thing you have to do on landing is 
to buy your land—an easy matter generally, unless you take 
a fancy to some of the natives’ reserves. A shilling per acre 
will generally procure you as much as you want, and leave the 
natives none the worse. But then, what about labour? You 
cannot of course work the plantation without assistance, and 
you cannot get the natives of the island upon which you are 
living to work steadily. You must therefore get natives from 
other islands. I don’t say anything at present upon the rights 
or wrongs of the labour traffic. I merely state here what would 
be necessary under the circumstances. Having then got your 
men, erected your house, and cleared your ground, you can 
proceed as your wisdom sees fit with the duties of such industry 
as you have ventured on. 
The Loyalties rather took my fancy as a place of settlement, 
the climate being healthy and pleasant and the ground good for 
cotton growing. But thentheyare under Frenchrule; and they will 
